Title:Potential of Modulating Wnt Signaling Pathway Toward the Development of Bone Anabolic Agent
VOLUME: 5 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Ulf Krause and Carl A. Gregory
Affiliation:Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Texas A and M Health Science Center, Module C, 5701 Airport Road. Temple, TX 76502, USA.
Keywords:Dkk-1, glycogen-synthetase-kinase-3β, mesenchymal stem/progenitor cell, osteogenic differentiation, Wnt-signaling
Abstract:Normal bone homeostasis is the result of a cross-talk between the anabolic axis (osteoblast differentiation) and
catabolic axis (osteoclast remodeling). A disruption of this tightly regulated relationship leads to imbalanced bone
turnover which ultimately results in diseases of the skeleton. Given that the majority of disease states are characterized by
an inadequate renewal of osteoblasts, and the canonical wingless (Wnt) pathway is critical for their differentiation from
progenitors, this represents an intriguing target for bone therapy. This mini-review focuses on the different options
available for pharmaceutical enhancement of osteogenic differentiation through targeting the various proteins involved in
Wnt signaling.
