Gli repressor formation via Protein kinase A (PKA) activation. In the current study, we generated a chondrocyte-specific knockout mouse strain of Suppressor of Fused (Sufu) and demonstrated that loss of Sufu leads to elevated expression of Hh target genes, Gli1 and Patched 1 (Ptch1), in the growth plate. Histological analysis illustrated an increase of proliferating cells and a reduction of the...

The precise nature of hormones and growth factors directly responsible for cartilage maturation is still largely unclear. Since longitudinal bone growth occurs through endochondral bone formation, excess or deficiency of most hormones and growth factors strongly influences final adult height. The structure and composition of the cartilaginous extracellular matrix have a critical role in regulat...

Enamel matrix derivative Emdogain (EMD) is widely used in periodontal treatment in spite of the fact that its effect on the developing embryo has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the teratogenic effect of EMD on the rat embryo neural crest cells. The neural crest is a unique population of cells that migrates from the dorsal neural tube along defined pathways and pro...

Enamel matrix derivative Emdogain (EMD) is widely used in periodontal treatment in spite of the fact that its effect on the developing embryo has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the teratogenic effect of EMD on the rat embryo neural crest cells. The neural crest is a unique population of cells that migrates from the dorsal neural tube along defined pathways and pro...

Articular cartilage (AC) lacks ability to repair defects due to its avascular nature as healing process relies on cells being brought in by blood vessels. Multiple approaches have been taken to facilitate cartilage repair in clinics, to date there is no effective treatment available that can restores the AC lesion to a normally functioning level over extended periods. In this regard, antler car...

Abstract Background Hypertrophy is a critical process for chondrocyte differentiation and maturation during endochondral ossification, which responsible the formation of long bone postnatal longitudinal growth. Increasing evidence suggests that melatonin, an indole hormone, plays pivotal role in chondrogenesis. However, little known about effects melatonin on terminal chondrocytes. Methods Mese...

A genetic deficit mediated by SNP rs143383 that leads to reduced expression of GDF5 is strongly associated with large-joint osteoarthritis. We speculated that this deficit could be attenuated by the application of exogenous GDF5 protein and as a first step we have assessed what effect such application has on primary osteoarthritis chondrocyte gene expression. Chondrocytes harvested from cartila...