title: Immunolocalization of BMP-6, a novel TGF-beta-related cytokine, in normal and atherosclerotic smooth muscle cells.
abstract: We have analyzed expression of a novel transforming growth factor type beta (TGF-beta)-related cytokine, bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6) in normal and atherosclerotic brain arteries. BMP-6 immunoreactivity was detected in smooth muscle cells of normal cerebral blood vessels. It is also expressed by smooth muscle cells of intimal plaques in atherosclerotically changed blood vessels. The BMPs regulate tissue modeling and remodeling and aberrant expression of BMPs might contribute to smooth muscle cell migration, proliferation, tissue reorganization and macrophage attraction, which are known mechanisms of atherosclerotic plaque formation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schluesener
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meyermann
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D055418:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000166:cytology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C525816:BMP6 protein, human; C525818:Bmp6 protein, rat; D055418:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta