Role of bone morphogenetic proteins and their antagonists during fracture healing

Abstract

Bone regeneration is critically regulated by various molecules. To understand the role of BMPs and some of their antagonists which regulate BMPs at extracellular level. We employed a mouse femur fracture model and to study their expressions during fracture healing. Real time PCR and In Situ Hybridization demonstrated that BMPs and their antagonists expressed during fracture healing, they peaked on different timing. In Vitro study by using different cell lines showed the same results. Our study further proved that BMPs regulate the expression of their inhibitors which make plausible the existence of a feedback regulatory mechanism. Skeletal homeostasis benefits from this delicate feedback regulatory mechanism. © 2012 The Hard Tissue Biology Network Association Printed in Japan, All rights reserved.