[Brachydactyly and the molecular mechanisms of digit formation]

Brachydactyly (BD) is a type of hand/foot malformation caused by the abnormal shortening or missing phalanges and/or metacarpals/metatarsals. BD most often occurs as an isolated trait, but can also occur as part of complex malformation syndromes. According to the patterns of affected digits, isolated BD can be divided into five groups: BDA, BDB, BDC, BDD, and BDE with individual subtypes. As an important molecular disease family, the pathogenic genes and molecular mechanisms of most isolated BD forms and some complicated syndromes are elucidated. Although BDs are highly diversified in phenotypes, at the molecular levels these pathogenic genes mainly affect several important signaling pathways: Hedgehog, NOTCH, WNT and BMP. These pathways form a complex signaling network and play different roles in different stages of the digit and joint development, in which BMP signaling pathway occupies a central position. Based on the current classification of BDs, this review summarizes the latest progress in the pathogenesis of BDs and the signaling pathways involved. The purpose of this review is to explore the molecular mechanisms of digit formation, which will provide references for the clinical diagnosis of BD, and the understanding of molecular mechanism of human bone development.