In this study, we use a mouse insertional mutant to delineate gene activities that shape the distal limb skeleton. A recessive mutation that results in brachydactyly was found in a lineage of transgenic mice. Sequences flanking the transgene insertion site were cloned, mapped to chromosome 3, and used to identify the brachydactyly gene as the type IB bone morphogenetic protein receptor, BmprIB ...

Nodal and BMP signaling pathways network with WNT signaling pathway during embryogenesis and carcinogenesis. CER1 (Cerberus 1) and GREM3 (CKTSF1B3 or CER2) inhibit NODAL signaling through ACVR1B (ALK4) or ACVR1C (ALK7) to SMAD2 or SMAD3. GREM1 (CKTSF1B1) inhibits BMP signaling through BMPR1A (ALK3), BMPR1B (ALK6) or ACVR1 (ALK2) to SMAD1, SMAD5 or SMAD8. CER1, GREM1 and GREM3 are DAN domain (DA...

Clinical trials on fracture repair have challenged the effectiveness of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) but suggest that delivery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) might be beneficial. It has also been reported that BMPs could not increase mineralization in several MSCs populations, which adds ambiguity to the use of BMPs. However, an exogenous supply of MSCs combined with vascular endothelia...

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are secreted signaling proteins - they transduce their signals by assembling complexes comprised of one of three known type II receptors and one of four known type I receptors. BMP-9 binds and signals through the type I receptor Alk1, but not other Alks, while BMP-2, -4, and -7 bind and signal through Alk3, and the close homologue Alk6, but not Alk1. The prese...

The TGF-β superfamily is the largest family of secreted proteins in mammals, and members of the TGF-β family are involved in most developmental and physiological processes. Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), oocyte-secreted paralogs of the TGF-β superfamily, have been shown genetically to control ovarian physiology. Although previous studies found ...

Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) are pluripotent cells that have the capacity to differentiate into tendon fibroblasts (TFs). They are abundant in adults, easy to access, and are therefore an ideal cell source for tendon tissue engineering. Despite this potential, the molecular cues necessary for tenogenic differentiation of ASCs are unknown. Unlike other bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs),...

Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7), a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of cytokines, is highly expressed in renal tubules and generally promotes maintenance of epithelial phenotype. It was examined whether, during the evolution of experimental diabetic nephropathy, the renal expression of BMP7 and BMP7 receptors declines, and the hypothesis that loss of BMP7...

OBJECTIVE Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease with multiple underlying metabolic and physical risk factors. Bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) expression is increased in endothelium in atherosclerosis-prone regions and is known to induce endothelial inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and hypertension. BMP actions are mediated by 2 different types of BMP receptors (BMPRI and BMPRII). H...

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are highly conserved morphogens that are essential for normal development. BMP-2 is highly expressed in the majority of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) but not in normal lung tissue or benign lung tumors. The effects of the BMP signaling cascade on the growth and survival of cancer cells is poorly understood. We show that BMP signaling is basally active...

Background: In vitro culture (IVC) of isolated preantral follicles from cryopreserved ovarian tissue might be an efficient method for enhancing mature oocytes in patients who are exposed to infertility. Materials and Methods: Ovaries of 13-day old NMRI mice were removed and randomly placed into control,needle immersed (NIV) and solid surface vitrification (SSV) groups. For vitrification, ovarie...