Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) stimulate bone and cartilage production and play a key role in embryonic vertebrae formation. BMPs interact with BMP receptors to induce growth, contributing to CNS, heart, and cartilage development. Mutations in BMPs can cause skeletal abnormalities, disorders, and cancerous diseases. BMPs have FDA approval for use in spine therapy to support healing.
A bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) is a protein of the transforming growth factor (TGF) family that can stimulate bone and cartilage production. BMPs play a key role in the formation of embryonic vertebrae and also appear to play a key role in signaling the arrangement of other tissues in the body. Malfunction of that system can cause a state of disease.
The discovery of bone morphogenetic protein is generally credited to Dr. Marshall Urist in the early part of the 1960s. He found that demineralized and pulverized bone segments caused new bone to form when implanted in rabbit pouches. Dr. Urist is the one who proposed the term bone morphogenetic protein.
Currently, 20 types of bone morphogenetic proteins are recognized. Originally, there were only seven, and six of these, BMP2-BMP7, were considered to be part of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. BMP1 has what is known as a metalloprotease, which is an enzyme whose catalytic process involves metal. Each BMP is found on a specific chromosome.
Bone morphogenetic proteins work by interacting with cell receptors known as bone morphogenetic protein receptors (BMPRs). The BMPRs then signal other proteins called SMADs to induce growth. This process contributes to the development of the central nervous system (CNS), heart and cartilage. It also contributes to postnatal bone development.
These proteins all play a role in the early formation of the embryo. If the processes and signals they create are disrupted, it can affect the development of the skeletal system and the overall pattern of the body. Research has found that 70% of inherited pulmonary arterial hypertension is caused by the mutation in BMPR2. Mutations on chromosomes, and on the related bone morphogenetic protein, can also cause skeletal abnormalities and disorders. Cancerous diseases also often involve a malfunction of the BMP signaling system.
Members of bone morphogenetic protein have been found to be useful in spine therapy. In the United States, BMP-2 and BMP-7 have received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use in humans because they have been found to help with problems where bone structures suffer from non-union and non-union delayed, two aspects involved in the bone healing process. They can be combined with a bone implant to be released gradually over a period of weeks to support healing. While expensive, BMP treatments may cost less over time, taking into account the number of corrective surgeries that may be required for bone lesions. BMP-7 has also been found to help heal damage done to the kidney glomeruli due to sclerosis.
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