Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling and N-Cadherin Related β-Catenin Signaling Play a Role in Mechanically Induced Osteogenic Cell Fate

Abstract

We propose that the mechanical microenvironment of bone has the potential to regulate osteogenic differentiation by initiating multiple key molecular pathways that are essential for such lineage commitment. Specifically, non-canonical Wnt5a signaling involving Ror2 and RhoA as well as N-cadherin mediated beta-catenin signaling are necessary for mechanically induced osteogenic differentiation.