BMP Signaling in Regenerative Medicine

Introduction

The matrix bone has fascinated scientists throughout centuries beginning with Hippocrates who initially theorized the capacity of endogenous substances for medicinal purposes. Even though earlier studies in the field of bone regeneration are known, Dr. Marshall Raymond Urist, an orthopedic surgeon, made the landmark discovery in 1965. Urist described his elusive observation with the following words: “Wandering histiocytes, foreign body giant cells, and inflammatory connective-tissue cells are stimulated by degradation products of dead matrix to grow in and repopulate the area of an implant of decalcified bone” (Urist, 1965). From this discovery, that new bone is formed upon applying a demineralized bone extract in a rabbit muscle he concluded that a certain agent within this crude protein mix has to be responsible for such an ectopic bone growth. He named this substance Bone Morphogenetic Protein, generally known as BMP.

Over the past five decades, cloning and purification of BMPs as well as the mechanisms of BMP signal transduction have been extensively studied and reviewed (Chen, Zhao, & Mundy, 2004; Wang, et al., 1990; Wozney, et al., 1988). To date, BMPs are well characterized and known as multi-functional growth factors belonging to the transforming growth factor ß (TGFß) superfamily. The superfamily of TGFß ligands is a phylogenetically conserved group of signaling molecules that comprises over 30 members in mammals including TGFβs, Activins, Inhibins, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs), Growth and Differentiation Factors (GDFs), Myostatin, Leftys, and Müllerian-Inhibiting Substance (MIS) (Figure 1) (Wu & Hill, 2009).

Figure 1.

Phylogenetic tree of the human TGF-ß superfamily. Phylogenetic tree derived from protein alignments of preproproteins of the members of the TGF-ß superfamily.

In this chapter, we will start by introducing BMPs in a general manner covering synthesis, structure, signaling, and regulation. The complexity of these systems already hints towards the importance of BMPs in human diseases, which will be the focus of the following paragraph. By understanding BMPs and also the associated diseases many researchers try to turn the table and utilize BMPs as drugs. We will present current efforts to find BMP treatments for a wide variety of diseases like kidney or liver failure. However, the original field for BMP application is the skeleton and until now only two members of the BMP family are approved for clinical application in bone regeneration, namely BMP2 and BMP7. Their development and role in today’s clinical practice, especially in the field of bone regeneration, will be a main focus of this chapter. Finally, we will discuss the current problems of BMP therapy and present possible solutions.

Background