PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Normal development and adult physiology of the kidney and vasculature rely heavily on bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Here we compile evidence that favors the notion that BMPs are also critically involved in the process of generation and maintenance of renal and vascular diseases. RECENT FINDINGS: Molecular manipulation of BMP signaling in vivo and in vitro has been instrumental in showing the protective role of BMPs on renal fibrosis and diabetic nephropathy. Similarly, activation of those pathways produces phenotypic changes in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells, tightly linked to the pathogenesis of vascular calcification, hypertrophy and atherosclerosis. SUMMARY: Gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments targeting BMP pathway agonists and inhibitors lead to significant progress in the comprehension of renal and vascular normal and altered behavior. The demonstration that BMP signaling plays an important part in pathological conditions of the vasculature and the kidney opens up possibilities for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Normal development and adult physiology of the kidney and vasculature rely heavily on bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Here we compile evidence that favors the notion that BMPs are also critically involved in the process of generation and maintenance of renal and vascular diseases. RECENT FINDINGS: Molecular manipulation of BMP signaling in vivo and in vitro has been instrumental in showing the protective role of BMPs on renal fibrosis and diabetic nephropathy. Similarly, activation of those pathways produces phenotypic changes in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells, tightly linked to the pathogenesis of vascular calcification, hypertrophy and atherosclerosis. SUMMARY: Gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments targeting BMP pathway agonists and inhibitors lead to significant progress in the comprehension of renal and vascular normal and altered behavior. The demonstration that BMP signaling plays an important part in pathological conditions of the vasculature and the kidney opens up possibilities for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
Authors: Eric D Austin; Rizwan Hamid; Anna R Hemnes; James E Loyd; Tom Blackwell; Chang Yu; John A Phillips Iii; Radhika Gaddipati; Santhi Gladson; Everett Gu; James West; Kirk B Lane Journal: Biol Sex Differ Date: 2012-02-20 Impact factor: 5.027
Authors: Anna Syreeni; Assam El-Osta; Carol Forsblom; Niina Sandholm; Maikki Parkkonen; Lise Tarnow; Hans-Henrik Parving; Amy J McKnight; Alexander P Maxwell; Mark E Cooper; Per-Henrik Groop Journal: Diabetes Date: 2011-09-06 Impact factor: 9.461
Authors: Sebastian Martini; Viji Nair; Sanjeevkumar R Patel; Felix Eichinger; Robert G Nelson; E Jennifer Weil; Marcus G Pezzolesi; Andrzej S Krolewski; Ann Randolph; Benjamin J Keller; Thomas Werner; Matthias Kretzler Journal: Diabetes Date: 2013-02-22 Impact factor: 9.461