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. 2006 May 1;116(5):1202–1209. doi: 10.1172/JCI28551

Figure 2. Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates osteogenesis through multiple mechanisms.

Figure 2

Wnts repress alternative mesenchymal differentiation pathways such as adipocyte and chondrocyte differentiation and promote osteoblast differentiation, proliferation, and mineralization activity while blocking osteoblast apoptosis. By increasing the ratio of osteoprotegerin (OPG) to RANKL, β-catenin represses osteoclastogenesis. Green plus signs indicate positive effects of Wnt; red minus signs indicate inhibitory effects of Wnt. Dlx5, distal-less homeobox 5; MSC, mesenchymal stem cell; Msx2, msh homeobox homolog 2; Osx, osterix; Runx2, runt-related transcription factor 2.