Der Orthopäde
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Bone tissue possesses a unique regeneration ability, translating mechanical and metabolic stimuli into a biological response. The perpetual regeneration processes allow continuous self-renewal and adaptation to prevailing mechanical forces. The complex regulation of osteoblastic differentiation during fracture repair has not been completely defined. ⋯ Moreover, correct WNT signalling is also required for BMP2-induced bone formation. There is increasing evidence that patients who develop recalcitrant fracture nonunions exhibit not only reduced numbers and differentiation capacity of osteogenic progenitors but also a significant downregulation of numerous factors in the WNT pathway. Therefore, better understanding of the WNT regulatory mechanisms could reveal new strategies for the treatment of delayed fracture healing and for the tissue engineering of bone.