Notch Signaling in Cartilage Development and Disease
The Notch signaling pathway regulates cell fate determination, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in many tissues coordinating key aspects of development, maintenance, and disease progression. Recently, the Notch pathway has been identified as a critical regulator of cartilage development and cartilage-related diseases. This chapter specifically highlights data defining the roles for Notch during limb bud chondrogenesis, growth plate chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophy, joint cartilage maintenance, and the initiation and progression of osteoarthritis. Finally, several unresolved questions regarding Notch function in cartilage development and disease are identified and the potential for Notch involvement in other cartilage-related diseases or disorders is discussed.
