Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and bone morphogenetic proteins strongly regulate
chondrogenesis and chondrocyte gene expression. The interactions of the signaling
pathways initiated by these factors are central to the control of chondrocyte differentiation.
Here we show that calcium-dependent signals induce expression of FGF18, an essential
regulator of bone and cartilage differentiation. The induction of FGF18 expression required
the calcium-dependent phosphatase, calcineurin. The activated forms of calcineurin or the …