Crosstalk between Wnt and bone morphogenetic protein signaling during osteogenic differentiation

Figure 2 Schematic illustration of small molecule compounds inducing the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Small molecule compounds stimulate the bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway and promote β-catenin accumulation. Then, β-catenin migrates to the nucleus and forms a β-catenin-T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer-binding factor complex to initiate the transcription of genes associated with osteogenesis. GSK-3β: Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta; APC: Adenomatosis polyposis coli; CK1-α: Casein kinase 1α; DSH: Disheveled; TCF/LEF: T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer-binding factor; DKK1: Dickkopf 1; LRP5/6: Lipoprotein receptor-related proteins 5 or 6; BMP: Bone morphogenetic protein.