Syndecan-3 in limb skeletal development.

Syndecan-3 is a member of a family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans that function as extracellular matrix receptors and as co-receptors for growth factors and signalling molecules. A variety of studies indicate that syndecan-3 is involved in several aspects of limb morphogenesis and skeletal development. Syndecan-3 participates in limb outgrowth and proliferation in response to the apical ectodermal ridge; mediates cell-matrix and/or cell-cell interactions involved in regulating the onset of chondrogenesis; may be involved in regulating the onset of osteogenesis and joint formation and, plays a role in regulating the proliferation of epiphyseal chondrocytes during endochondral ossification.