Caspase-12 is a molecule whose functions are still not well understood. Although its expression has been found in various tissues, specific roles have been described in only a few cases. These include the effect of caspase-12 on murine bone cell differentiation during craniofacial development. This work focused on the development of the limbs taking place through endochondral ossification, which precedes the formation of the cartilaginous growth plate. Caspase-12 was described here for the first time in growth plate chondrocytes during physiological development. Using pharmacological inhibition, caspase-12 was found to affect chondrogenesis. Limb-derived micromass cultures showed a significantly increased area of chondrogenic nodules after caspase-12 inhibition and there were changes in gene expression, the most significant of which was the reduction of Mmp9. These data point to potential new functions of caspase-12 in chondrogenesis.

Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology Unit of Physiology and Pathophysiology University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Austria

Department of Physiology University of Veterinary Sciences Brno Brno Czech Republic; Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic

Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic

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