Work

The role of endothelial-mesenchymal transition in heterotopic ossification

Year: 2012

Type: review

Abstract: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a process by which bone forms in soft tissues, in response to injury, inflammation, or genetic disease. This usually occurs by initial cartilage formation, followed by endochondral ossification. A rare disease called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) allows this mechanism to be induced by a combination of genetic mutation and acute inflammatory responses. FOP patients experience progressive HO throughout their lifetime and form an ectopic skeleton. Recent studies on FOP have suggested that heterotopic cartilage and bone is of endothelial origin. Vascular endothelial cells differentiate into skeletal cells through a mesenchymal stem cell intermediate that is generated by endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). Local inflammatory signals and/or other changes in the tissue microenvironment mediate the differentiation of endothelial-derived mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes and osteoblasts to induce HO. We discuss the current evidence for the endothelial contribution to heterotopic bone formation.

Source: Journal of Bone and Mineral Research

DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.1691

Authors: Damian Medici, Bjorn R Olsen

Institutions: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University

Language: English

Topic: Heterotopic Ossification and Related Conditions

Subfield: Rheumatology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases