The past 15 years have witnessed tremendous progress in the molecular understanding of
osteoblasts, the main bone-forming cells in the vertebrate skeleton. In particular, all of the …

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease for which there are currently no disease-modifying
drugs available. Degradation of the cartilage extracellular matrix is a central feature of the …

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that involves the destruction of articular
cartilage and eventually leads to disability. Molecules that promote the selective …

The transcription factor Sox9 is necessary for early chondrogenesis, but its subsequent roles
in the cartilage growth plate, a highly specialized structure that drives skeletal growth and …

Rationale: Vascular calcification is a hallmark of atherosclerosis, a major cause of morbidity
and mortality in the United States. We have previously reported that the osteogenic …

Biological systems involving short-range activators and long-range inhibitors can generate
complex patterns. Reaction-diffusion models postulate that differences in signaling range …

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an intricate network of proteins that surrounds cells and
has a central role in establishing an environment that is conducive to tissue-specific cell …

Bone morphogenetic protein (s)(BMP) are very powerful cytokines that induce bone and
cartilage formation. BMP also stimulate osteoblast and chondrocyte differentiation. During …

RUNX2, a key transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation, is regulated by ERK1/2 and
p38 MAP kinase‐mediated phosphorylation. However, the specific contribution of each …

The majority of children with congenital heart disease now live into adulthood due to the
remarkable surgical and medical advances that have taken place over the past half century …