Figure 7. A model showing how NDRG1 plays its essential roles in promotion of bone remodeling and tumor growth/angiogenesis.
NDRG1 promotes M-CSF-induced proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)/common myeloid precursors (CMPs), leading to an increase in the population of monocytes/macrophages but not granulocytes. NDRG1 further promotes the terminal differentiation of monocytes/macrophages into M1- and M2-type macrophages, osteoclasts, and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. NDRG1, however, does not play a critical role in the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteoblasts. Black arrows, NDRG1 is involved; gray arrows, NDRG1 is not involved.