Small molecules for mesenchymal stem cell fate determination

Figure 1 Small molecules guiding mesenchymal stem cell osteogenic cell fate determination. Wnt, BMP, and Notch signaling cascades are the three major pathways governing the expression of the master regulator runt-related transcription factor 2 during mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) osteogenic commitment. The activation of Wnt, Notch and BMP signaling pathways by small molecules promotes the osteogenesis of MSCs. The MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways interfere with GSK3 phosphorylation and β-catenin degradation and therefore exert an effect on osteogenesis. The AMP-activated protein kinase pathway has also recently been shown to be involved in osteogenic regulation. AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase.