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The effect of early Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) activation on craniofacial development
Author(s) -
Chong H. Jonathan,
Marcucio Ralph
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.472.2
Subject(s) - mesenchyme , craniofacial , bone morphogenetic protein , bone morphogenetic protein 2 , microbiology and biotechnology , bone morphogenetic protein 4 , chemistry , morphogenesis , biology , embryo , genetics , biochemistry , gene , in vitro
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a family of growth factors that play important roles in craniofacial development. Inhibition of BMP signaling in the head mesenchyme of early stage chick embryos leads to craniofacial defects. The aim of this study was to activate the BMP pathway and investigate effects on craniofacial development. Activation of the BMP pathway was achieved via placement of BMP‐2‐soaked beads in the head mesenchyme or injection of DF‐1 fibroblasts transfected with an avian retrovirus expressing BMP2 or BMP4 (RCAS‐ BMP2 and RCAS‐ BMP4 , respectively). Placement of BMP‐2‐soaked beads led to significant defects affecting the brain, eyes, face, and jaw structures. Phenotype severity appeared to be dose‐dependent, and TUNEL analysis revealed an increase in cell death compared to controls. Injection of DF‐1 cells transfected with RCAS‐ BMP2 or RCAS‐ BMP4 yielded similar results. In conjunction with previous studies examining BMP inhibition in the head mesenchyme, these data suggest that a delicate balance in the degree of BMP signaling regulates normal craniofacial morphogenesis. Grant Funding Source NIH/NIDCR R01DE018234 to R.M. and HHMI Medical Research Training Fellowship to H.J.C.