Table 1.
Active signaling molecules and their function at different stages of condensation formation.
| Stage | Gene/Gene Product | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Epithelial–Mesenchymal Interactions | BMP2 | Inductive epithelial signaling molecules |
| MSX1 | ||
| TGFβ | ||
| Tenascin | ||
| Syndecan | ||
| HH | ||
| Initiation | CFKH1 | Regulates TGFβ |
| TGFβ | Regulates fibronectin | |
| Fibronectin | Regulates NCAM | |
| PRX1, PRX2 | ||
| FGF2 | ||
| Activin | ||
| Tenascin | Adhesion; inhibits fibronectin | |
| Syndecan | ||
| NCAM | Adhesion; stabilization and maintenance of condensation | |
| N-cadherin | Adhesion | |
| Boundary Establishment | Tenascin | Boundary formation |
| Syndecan | ||
| MMPs, TIMPs | Potential role in boundary degradation | |
| HOXA2 | Establishment of osteogenic and chondrogenic domains | |
| Growth | N-cadherin | Cell adhesion |
| NCAM | ||
| Activin | ||
| FGFs | ||
| Fibronectin | ||
| Hyaluronan, hyaladherin | ||
| Tenascin | ||
| HOXA13 | Cell adhesion and condensation patterning | |
| Galectin-1A, galectin-8 | ||
| FGF2 | Cell proliferation and survival | |
| HOXD11 | ||
| FOXC1 | ||
| FOXC2 | ||
| Scleraxis | ||
| SOX9 | ||
| BMPs | ||
| MMPs, TIMPs | Potential role in boundary degradation to allow growth |