Bone Abstracts

Caspases are the basic enzymatic components in the apoptotic process. Recently, these molecules seem to participate not only in apoptotic but also in other cellular events, particularly in differentiation. This work aimed to further investigate novel roles of executive caspases such as caspase-7. The investigation is based on our previously published findings showing non-apoptotic roles of caspase-7 in odontogenesis.In this study, we followed the localiz...

Caspase-7 belongs to executive apoptotic and pro-inflammatory caspases. Recent reports point to novel roles of these caspases, particularly in cell differentiation. As we revealed such function of caspase-7 in odontogenesis, we turned our attention to participation of this molecule in formation of hard tissue in general.In this work, both type of bones, intramembranous (mandibular/alveolar bone), and endochondral (long bones) were investigated. Mouse hea...

Among activation of apoptotic machinery, Fas (CD95)/FasL (CD178) were suggested to act in cell proliferation and differentiation. Expression of Fas and FasL was reported during tooth and bone formation. The examination of gld mice showed increased total body bone mass and number of osteoblasts in long bones. However, Fas and FasL functions in osteogenesis remain controversial. As most of studies dealing with Fas/FasL system in bone formation were performed in endochondral mode...