Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7

BMPs (Bone Morphogenetic Proteins) belong to the TGF-beta of signaling proteins and were originally identified as protein regulators of cartilage and bone formation, BMP-7 being the most potent osteoconductive factor. They have also been shown to regulate the growth, differentiation, chemotaxis and apoptosis of various cell types, including mesenchymal cells, epithelial cells, hematopoietic cells and neuronal cells. Exogenous BMP-7 promotes enhanced production of collagen type-II, aggrecan and hyaluronan. It can counteract interleukin-1 on human articular chondrocytes and is thought to maintain normal chondrocyte homeostasis. BMP-7 is synthesized as large precursor molecule which are cleaved by proteolytic enzymes. The active form can be found as homodimers or heterodimers.