title: BMP-7 functions as a novel hormone to facilitate liver regeneration.
abstract: Bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) is a key protein involved in liver organogenesis and development. The physiological circulating concentration of BMP-7 is between 100 and 300 pg/ml. BMP-7 expression is absent in the liver, but the receptors for BMP-7 are present on adult hepatocytes. Therefore, we hypothesized that BMP-7 might function as an endogenous regulator of adult hepatocyte proliferation and liver homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that neutralization of circulating endogenous BMP-7 results in significantly impaired regeneration of the liver after partial hepatectomy. Therapeutic administration of recombinant human BMP-7 (rhBMP-7) significantly enhances liver regeneration associated with accelerated improvement of liver function. Collectively, our results argue for the role of BMP-7 as a kidney- and bone-produced endogenous regulator of hepatocyte health.
authors.affiliation: Division of Matrix Biology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Changqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Valerie S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: LeBleu
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Soubasakos
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giraldo
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeisberg
authors.forename: Raghu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalluri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C525819:BMP7 protein, human; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta