[Wnt-beta-catenin signaling in bone metabolism]

The Wnt-beta-catenin signaling pathway is involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and morphogenesis. Recently, mutations of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5 ) gene, a receptor of this signaling, have been described to be associated with both osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome and the high bone mass phenotype. It was found that the loss of function of the LRP5 in both human and mice yielded a decrease in bone formation, and an active mutation in this same gene resulted in a high bone mass trait. Moreover, several groups and we reported that single nucleotide polymorphisms in the LRP5 gene predicted the bone mass. This pathway also affects the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and multiple myeloma. These findings indicate that Wnt-beta-catenin signaling pathway plays important roles in the skeletal biology.