%0 Journal Article
%T TGF-¦Â and BMP Signaling in Osteoblast Differentiation and Bone Formation
%A Guiqian Chen
%A Chuxia Deng
%A Yi-Ping Li
%J International Journal of Biological Sciences
%D 2012
%I Ivyspring International Publisher
%X Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-¦Â)/bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling is involved in a vast majority of cellular processes and is fundamentally important throughout life. TGF-¦Â/BMPs have widely recognized roles in bone formation during mammalian development and exhibit versatile regulatory functions in the body. Signaling transduction by TGF-¦Â/BMPs is specifically through both canonical Smad-dependent pathways (TGF-¦Â/BMP ligands, receptors and Smads) and non-canonical Smad-independent signaling pathway (e.g. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, MAPK). Following TGF-¦Â/BMP induction, both the Smad and p38 MAPK pathways converge at the Runx2 gene to control mesenchymal precursor cell differentiation. The coordinated activity of Runx2 and TGF-¦Â/BMP-activated Smads is critical for formation of the skeleton. Recent advances in molecular and genetic studies using gene targeting in mice enable a better understanding of TGF-¦Â/BMP signaling in bone and in the signaling networks underlying osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. This review summarizes the recent advances in our understanding of TGF-¦Â/BMP signaling in bone from studies of genetic mouse models and human diseases caused by the disruption of TGF-¦Â/BMP signaling. This review also highlights the different modes of cross-talk between TGF-¦Â/BMP signaling and the signaling pathways of MAPK, Wnt, Hedgehog, Notch, and FGF in osteoblast differentiation and bone formation.
%U http://www.biolsci.org/v08p0272.htm