Semaphorin pathways orchestrate osteogenesis

Semaphorins regulate a variety of biological processes, including axon guidance, neuronal migration, angiogenesis, cardiogenesis and immune responses. Semaphorin 6D is now shown to regulate osteoclast function during bone development, through its association with its receptor plexinA1. This activity implicates a signalling pathway known to transcriptionally regulate cell differentiation and involves the receptor Trem2 and the adaptor DAP12. © 2006 Nature Publishing Group.