Regulation of local differentiation of cartilage and bone by extracellular matrix: a cascade type mechanism.

The regenerative potential of the vertebrate skeletal system is well known. Normal cartilage and bone development can be mimicked by implantation of demineralized bone matrix, which induces bone formation locally. The sequential stages of the matrix-induced bone development and recent advances in the underlying biochemical mechanisms are described. The extracellular matrix components have chemotactic, mitogenic and differentiative activities. It would appear that a cascade type mechanism is operative during local differentiation of endochondral bone.