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Review
. 2006 Mar 13;172(6):795-7.
doi: 10.1083/jcb.200601114.

Skeletons in the p53 tumor suppressor closet: genetic evidence that p53 blocks bone differentiation and development

Gerard P Zambetti  1 , Edwin M Horwitz, Ernestina Schipani
Affiliations
Review

Skeletons in the p53 tumor suppressor closet: genetic evidence that p53 blocks bone differentiation and development

Gerard P Zambetti et al. J Cell Biol. .

Abstract

A series of in vitro tissue culture studies indicated that the p53 tumor suppressor promotes cellular differentiation, which could explain its role in preventing cancer. Quite surprisingly, however, two new in vivo studies provide genetic evidence that p53 blocks osteoblast differentiation and bone development. These interesting results and their biological and clinical implications are the focus of this comment.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The p53 signaling pathway negatively regulates tumorigenesis and bone development. Wild-type p53 inhibits osteoblast differentiation through the repression of Osterix and Runx2. Mdm2, which is a negative regulator of p53, can override this response and promote osteoblast differentiation and bone development. Osteoblasts lacking p53 have an enhanced ability to promote osteoclast differentiation and activity. Enhanced osteoclast differentiation is associated with elevated levels of MCSF produced by the p53 −/− osteoblasts.
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Comment on

References

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