While biglycan is not needed for development of the musculoskeletal system, it is required for the maintenance of its integrity. In adult bone turnover

is regulated by a fine balance between bone formation click here by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts. In the absence of biglycan, there is decreased bone formation due to defects in the maturation of osteogenic precursors that form bone [2]. Bone Morphogenic Protein 2/4 (BMP-2/4), a well-known inducer of bone formation, is currently being used therapeutically to aid bone repair. Bone-derived cells depleted of biglycan have less BMP-2/4 binding and subsequently less osteogenic differentiation. It is logical to conclude that biglycan could be a prime candidate to enhance BMP-2/4 function in situations where it is commonly used such as in bone regeneration and repair after fracture or trauma. Mice lacking biglycan also display pathologies typically associated with skeletal aging. Specifically, by three months of age, hallmark signs of osteoarthritis (OA) are evident in the mutant mice, including fissures, cell clustering and loss of the smooth articular cartilage surface on the joints. The OA is detected in all weight bearing joints as well as in the www.selleckchem.com/products/CAL-101.html temporomandibular joint of the jaw. The effects of biglycan loss are exacerbated by depletion of the related

small leucine-rich proteoglycan fibromodulin (Bgn−/0; Fmod−/− DKO). Molecular studies point to the abnormal sequestration of the potent growth factor TGF-β in the combined absence of biglycan and fibromodulin why causing it to be ‘unleashed’ and subsequently overactive. The uncontrolled stimulation of TGF-β in this context

leads to hyper-proliferation, premature differentiation of cartilage derived cells, MMP induction and, ultimately, loss of the condyle tissue integrity [3]. Biglycan can also control the fate of skeletal stem cells by modulating the extracellular niche. This function was demonstrated in ECM-rich tendon tissue that harbors a cell population with stem cell features including clonogenicity, multipotency and regenerative capabilities [4]. The combined removal of biglycan and fibromodulin caused tendon stem/progenitor cells to be hypersensitive to BMP-2: instead of differentiating into tendon, these progenitors form multiple ectopic bones within the tendons that affect the gait of the mice. Biglycan also controls other factors critical to bone in addition to TGF-β and BMP-2/4. In humans, a mutation in the extracellular domain of the key Wnt signaling molecule LRP-6 (R611C) causes elevated cholesterol and osteopenia. Notably, exogenous application of non-glycanated biglycan repaired the defective Wnt signaling in cells expressing mutant LRP-6 [5]. Thus, biglycan could potentially ameliorate pathologies caused by defective Wnt signaling.