Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (Jan 2019)

Wnt Pathway in Bone Repair and Regeneration – What Do We Know So Far

  • Khosrow S. Houschyar,
  • Christian Tapking,
  • Christian Tapking,
  • Mimi R. Borrelli,
  • Daniel Popp,
  • Daniel Popp,
  • Dominik Duscher,
  • Zeshaan N. Maan,
  • Malcolm P. Chelliah,
  • Jingtao Li,
  • Kamran Harati,
  • Christoph Wallner,
  • Susanne Rein,
  • Dominik Pförringer,
  • Georg Reumuth,
  • Gerrit Grieb,
  • Sylvain Mouraret,
  • Sylvain Mouraret,
  • Mehran Dadras,
  • Johannes M. Wagner,
  • Jungul Y. Cha,
  • Frank Siemers,
  • Marcus Lehnhardt,
  • Björn Behr

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2018.00170
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6

Abstract

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Wnt signaling plays a central regulatory role across a remarkably diverse range of functions during embryonic development, including those involved in the formation of bone and cartilage. Wnt signaling continues to play a critical role in adult osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Disruptions in this highly-conserved and complex system leads to various pathological conditions, including impaired bone healing, autoimmune diseases and malignant degeneration. For reconstructive surgeons, critically sized skeletal defects represent a major challenge. These are frequently associated with significant morbidity in both the recipient and donor sites. The Wnt pathway is an attractive therapeutic target with the potential to directly modulate stem cells responsible for skeletal tissue regeneration and promote bone growth, suggesting that Wnt factors could be used to promote bone healing after trauma. This review summarizes our current understanding of the essential role of the Wnt pathway in bone regeneration and repair.

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