Relating the chondrocyte gene network to growth plate morphology: from genes to phenotype

PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e34729. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034729. Epub 2012 Apr 30.

Abstract

During endochondral ossification, chondrocyte growth and differentiation is controlled by many local signalling pathways. Due to crosstalks and feedback mechanisms, these interwoven pathways display a network like structure. In this study, a large-scale literature based logical model of the growth plate network was developed. The network is able to capture the different states (resting, proliferating and hypertrophic) that chondrocytes go through as they progress within the growth plate. In a first corroboration step, the effect of mutations in various signalling pathways of the growth plate network was investigated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chick Embryo
  • Chondrocytes / metabolism
  • Chondrocytes / physiology*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / genetics
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / physiology*
  • Growth Plate / anatomy & histology*
  • Growth Plate / physiology
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological*
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Osteogenesis / physiology*
  • Phenotype*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*