[Carminerin contributes to chondrocyte calcification during pathological endochondral ossification]

Endochondral ossification is an essential process not only for physiological skeletal development and growth, but also for pathological disorders such as osteophyte formation in osteoarthritic joints and ectopic ossification with ageing. We recently identified a novel cartilage-specific molecule carminerin. Although the carminerin-deficient mice developed and grew normally, pathological endochondral ossification were suppressed. We conclude that carminerin contributes to chondrocyte calcification during pathological endochondral ossification without affecting physiological skeletal conditions, suggesting that this molecule could be a therapeutic target for these disorders.