Discoidin domain receptors; an ancient family of collagen receptors has major roles in bone development, regeneration and metabolism

The extracellular matrix (ECM) niche plays a critical role in determining cellular behavior during bone development including the differentiation and lineage allocation of skeletal progenitor cells to chondrocytes, osteoblasts, or marrow adipocytes. As major ECM component mineralized tissues, collagen has instructive as well structural roles is required for cell differentiation. Cells sense their environment using specific surface receptors. For many years, β1 integrins were considered main receptors bone, but, more recently, important second, primordial receptor family, discoidin domain receptors, become apparent. This review will specifically focus on tissue related functions abnormal formation, regeneration metabolism.