Beta-catenin Mediates Soft Tissue Contracture in Clubfoot

• DOI: 10.1007/s11999-008-0692-7
• Publication Date: 2009-01-23T15:52:23Z
• Authors: Raymond Poon; Catherine Li; Benjamin A. Alman
• Keywords: Beta-catenin; BETA (programming language)

The contracted tissues from clubfeet resemble other fibroproliferative disorders such as palmar fibromatosis. Beta-catenin-mediated signaling is a crucial pathway controlling the response in many disorders. To determine if beta-catenin plays role clubfoot, and less were studied using Western analysis to protein level of beta-catenin. Primary cell cultures established these tissues, they treated with either lithium increase or Dickkopf-1 inhibit RNA was extracted cells analyzed how regulates expression Type III collagen, an extracellular matrix upregulated clubfoot tissue. There more than twofold tissues. Treatment showed collagen positively correlated These data support concept that beta-catenin-mediated important regulating contracture clubfeet. Because pharmacologic agents are under development block this pathway, drugs could be used cases severe stiffness improve range motion decrease need for radical surgical approaches.