Abstract: Abstract: Evolutionarily conserved Notch signaling plays an important role in developmental processes and adult tissue homeostasis by regulating cell fate determination, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. There are four Notch receptors and five ligands in mammals. Notch intracellular domain (NICD) translocates to the nucleus after being cleaved and activate the transcription of Notch target genes. Notch2 is the predominant regulator of endochondral bone formation. The conditional deletion of Notch2 caused caused an accumulation of hypertrophic chondrocytes in the growth plate, resulting in severe skeletal malformations. The differentiation of mesenchymal cells into cells of the osteoblastic lineage is regulated by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), Wnt and Notch Signaling. Notch signaling inhibit osteoblast differentiation by arrest of osteoblastic cell differentiation at different stages of maturation. Notch signaling negative regulates osteoclasts through RankL/Rank/OPG system.

Key words: Notch signaling, Chondrocytes, Osteoblast, Osteoclast