High Plasma Concentrations of Sclerostin, an Inhibitor of the Wnt Signaling Pathway, in Young Horses Affected by Osteochondrosis

Abstract

See, stats, and : https : // www. researchgate. net/ publication / 269338509 High, an Inhibitor , in Young . . . Article DOI : 10 . 4236 / ojo . 2014 . 412051 CITATION 1 READS 48 7 , including : Didier University 242 , 165 SEE Luis University 8 SEE Pascale - Palmer French 276 , 633 SEE Lejeune - Philippe University 23 SEE All . The . All - text and , letting . Abstract Osteochondrosis (OC) is a developmental disease in horses with a significant impact on the horse ' s welfare and performance . The early disturbance of enchondral ossification progresses to inflam - matory and healing process in older horses . Metabolic pathway analysis showed an obvious dy - sregulation of several signaling pathways related to cartilage formation and cartilage repair such as Wnt / β - catenin , Indian hedgehog and TGF - β signaling pathways . Other regulated genes ap - peared to be involved in high carbohydrate diet , abnormal insulin metabolism or inflammation . Sclerostin is an osteocyte - secreted soluble antagonist of the Wnt / β - catenin signaling pathway . It is crucial for osteoblast development and activity and is increased in naturally occurring lesions of equine osteochondrosis . The aim of this study is to compare the circulating sclerostin levels be - tween OC - affected (n = 20) and healthy horses (n = 19) . A significant linear regression between plasma sclerostin and age is observed especially in the healthy young horses . The mean plasma sclerostin concentration is significantly higher in young horses suffering from osteochondrosis compared to the control horses . These results reinforce the possible role of the Wnt / β - catenin signaling pathway in the OC pathogeny . The inhibition of this essential pathway could disturb the osteo - chondral differentiation . More studies are currently needed to define the eventual clinic in - terest of plasma sclerostin as future biomarker in bone and cartilage diseases .