Role of cadherin-11 in synovial joint formation and rheumatoid arthritis pathology

Abstract

Cadherin-11 is a classic cadherin adhesion molecule that mediates homophilic cell-to-cell adhesion. Cadherin-11 is involved in the function of embryonic development, tissue morphogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis, and signal transduction. This review summarizes the function of cadherin-11 in synovial joint formation and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including its relative function with bone and cartilage development and growth plate, synovial, and tendon formation. The role of cadherin-11 in RA is also discussed, both in fibroblasts inflammation and fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLSs) migration and invasion. The potential of anti-cadherin-11 therapy for RA is introduced in comparison with the other current RA therapies.

Keywords::

• Cadherin-11
• Cell adhesion
• Chondrocytes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Synovial joint formation

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the National Basic Research Program of China (2011CB964701), National Key Technology Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2012BAI42G01), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31070864, 81271980).

Conflict of interest

None.