BMPs induce dermal markers and ectopic feather tracts

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is known to be involved in multiple inductive events during embryogenesis including the development of amniote skin. Here, we demonstrate that early application of BMP-2 to the lateral trunk of chick embryos induces the formation of dense dermis, which is competent to participate in feather development. We show that BMPs induce the dermis markers Msx-1 and cDermo-1 and lead to dermal proliferation, to expression of beta-catenin, and eventually to the formation of ectopic feather tracts in originally featherless regions of chick skin. Moreover, we present a detailed analysis of cDermo-1 expression during early feather development. The data implicate that cDermo-1 is located downstream of BMP in a signaling pathway that leads to condensation of dermal cells. The roles of BMP and cDermo-1 during development of dermis and feather primordia are discussed.