Prospect of bone morphogenetic protein 13 in liver diseases

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2012 Jan;37(1):1-5. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-7347.2012.01.001.

Abstract

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to TGF-β superfamily and are a group of important cytokines involved in cell differentiation, proliferation and embryonic development. Multiple BMPs play important roles in several functions of vertebrates. Signaling pathway of BMPs is known to be mediated by Smad proteins, which include 8 members while Smad1, Smad5 and Smad8 are involved in BMPs signal transduction while Smad2 and Smad3 are mediated TGF-β signal transduction. Although several BMPs such as BMP4 and BMP9 have been documented in the liver, BMP13 has not been examined in the liver. BMP13 also known as growth differentiation factor (GDF)-6 or cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein (CDMP)-2 is one of the BMPs family members. Function of BMP13 has been investigated in bone and tendon repair. It can stimulate tendon-like cell proliferation. However, our recent findings revealed that there was expression of BMP13 in the liver and its expression was modulated during metabolic disorders. The current article is to understand biological function of BMP13 especially in the liver.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / metabolism
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / physiology*
  • Growth Differentiation Factor 6 / metabolism
  • Growth Differentiation Factor 6 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Liver Diseases / metabolism*
  • Smad Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • GDF6 protein, human
  • Growth Differentiation Factor 6
  • Smad Proteins
  • cartilage-derived-morphogenetic protein-2