BMP-4 affects the differentiation of metanephric mesenchyme and reveals an early anterior-posterior axis of the embryonic kidney.
Bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4), a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family, regulates several developmental processes during animal development. We have now studied the effects of BMP-4 in the metanephric kidney differentiation by using organ culture technique. Human recombinant BMP-4 diminishes the number of ureteric branches and changes the branching pattern. Our data suggest that BMP-4 affects the ureteric branching indirectly via interfering with the differentiation of the nephrogenic mesenchyme. The clear positional preference of the defects to posterior mesenchyme might reflect an early anterior-posterior patterning of the metanephric mesenchyme. The smooth muscle alpha-actin expressing cell population around the ureteric stalk, highly expressing Bmp-4 mRNA, is also expanded in kidneys treated with BMP-4. Thus, BMP-4 may be a physiological regulator of the development of the periureteric smooth muscle layer and ureteric elongation.
Raatikainen-Ahokas
A
A
Developmental Biology Research Program, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Hytönen
M
M
Tenhunen
A
A
Sainio
K
K
Sariola
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
C525809:BMP4 protein, human; C525810:Bmp4 protein, mouse; C525811:Bmp4 protein, rat; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins