Growth/Differentiation Factor-5 (GDF-5) and Skeletal Development

Abstract

These studies show that GDF-5 acts at two stages of skeletal development and by two distinct mechanisms. First, GDF-5 promotes the initial stages of chondrogenesis by promoting cell adhesion, which is consistent with the expression of Gdf-5 in the cartilage condensation. Second, GDF-5 can increase the size of the skeletal elements by increasing proliferation within the epiphyseal cartilage adjacent to its expression within the joint interzone.