New Clues to the Development of Pachydermoperiostosis

Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine shows that Wnt signaling is involved in the development of pachydermoperiostosis (PDP), a condition that causes pachydermia, digital clubbing, and periostosis of long bones.

American Journal of Pathology

Dr. Kenji Kabashima and colleagues conducted their study based on the knowledge that the Wnt signaling pathway is involved in the development of bones and skin. They found that the dermal fibroblasts of PDP patients proliferated more than control fibroblasts and, according to the

article on the study, “that mRNA expression of a Wnt signaling antagonist, DKK1, was much lower in PDP fibroblasts than in normal ones.

Decreased expression of DKK1 in fibroblasts and enhanced expression of {beta}-catenin were also noted in PDP patients.”

These observations led the researchers to idea of injecting DKK1 small interfering RNA into the ears of mice, which resulted in an increased ear thickness in the animals, as is seen in PDP patients.

nhanced Wnt signaling contributes to the development of pachydermia by enhancing dermal fibroblast functions.”

Based on the study findings, the researchers concluded that “e

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