title: Bone morphogenetic protein-4 strongly potentiates growth factor-induced proliferation of mammary epithelial cells.
abstract: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional cytokines that elicit pleiotropic effects on biological processes such as cell proliferation, cell differentiation and tissue morphogenesis. With respect to cell proliferation, BMPs can exert either mitogenic or anti-mitogenic activities, depending on the target cells and their context. Here, we report that in low-density cultures of immortalized mammary epithelial cells, BMP-4 did not stimulate cell proliferation by itself. However, when added in combination with suboptimal concentrations of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, FGF-7, FGF-10, epidermal growth factor (EGF) or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), BMP-4 potently enhanced growth factor-induced cell proliferation. These results reveal a hitherto unsuspected interplay between BMP-4 and growth factors in the regulation of mammary epithelial cell proliferation. We suggest that the ability of BMP-4 to potentiate the mitogenic activity of multiple growth factors may contribute to mammary gland ductal morphogenesis as well as to breast cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue-Michel-Servet, 1, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. Roberto.Montesano@unige.ch
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montesano
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarközi
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schramek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation
chemical_list: C525809:BMP4 protein, human; C525810:Bmp4 protein, mouse; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases