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First published online 8 April 2008
doi: 10.1242/jcs.020362

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Inhibition of β-catenin signaling causes defects in postnatal cartilage development

Mo Chen^1,*, Mei Zhu^1,*, Hani Awad¹, Tian-Fang Li¹, Tzong-Jen Sheu¹, Brendan F. Boyce², Di Chen¹ and Regis J. O'Keefe^1,

¹ Department of Orthopaedics, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
² Department of Pathology, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642, USA

Author for correspondence (e-mail: Regis_okeefe{at}urmc.rochester.edu)

Accepted 24 January 2008

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is essential for normal skeletal development because conditional gain or loss of function of β-catenin in cartilage results in embryonic or early postnatal death. To address the role of β-catenin in postnatal skeletal growth and development, Col2a1-ICAT transgenic mice were generated. Mice were viable and had normal size at birth, but became progressively runted. Transgene expression was limited to the chondrocytes in the growth plate and articular cartilages and was associated with decreased β-catenin signaling. Col2a1-ICAT transgenic mice showed reduced chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, and an increase in chondrocyte apoptosis, leading to decreased widths of the proliferating and hypertrophic zones, delayed formation of the secondary ossification center, and reduced skeletal growth. Isolated primary Col2a1-ICAT transgenic chondrocytes showed reduced expression of chondrocyte genes associated with maturation, and demonstrated that VEGF gene expression requires cooperative interactions between BMP2 and β-catenin signaling. Altogether the findings confirm a crucial role for Wnt/β-catenin in postnatal growth.

Key words: Chondrocyte, Endochondral bone formation, Inhibitor of β-catenin and TCF (ICAT), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), β-catenin

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