[Histological function of PTHrP in cartilage]

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is known as an important local factor for chondrogenesis, promoting chondrocyte proliferation and inhibiting their differentiation into the hypertrophic phenotype. Signaling transduction through the PTH/PTHrP receptor has two possible pathways: the activation of adenylate cyclase and subsequent protein kinase A (PKA), and the activation of phospholipase C (PLC). Recent studies with mice carrying PTH/PTHrP receptor inactivated for PLC and chondrocyte-specific deletion of the G (s) gene have shown that cAMP/PKA signaling appears to stimulate chondrocyte proliferation and inhibit their differentiation, whereas PLC signaling enhanced chondrocyte differentiation and inhibited their proliferation. In a physiological state, cAMP/PKA signaling may predominate over PLC pathway. Also, Na(+)/H(+)exchanger regulatory factor 2 (NHERF2) has been reported to down-regulate adenylate cyclase activity, in a switch mechanism that results in signal transduction through the PLC pathway.