Conditional deletion of BMP7 from the limb skeleton does not affect bone formation or fracture repair.
While the osteoinductive activity of recombinant bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) is well established, evaluation of the role of endogenous BMP7 in bone formation and fracture healing has been hampered by perinatal lethality in BMP7 knockout mice. Here we employ conditional deletion of BMP7 from the embryonic limb prior to the onset of skeletogenesis to create limb bones lacking BMP7. We find that the absence of locally produced BMP7 has no effect on postnatal limb growth, articular cartilage formation, maintenance of bone mass, or fracture healing. Our data suggest that other BMPs present in adult bone are sufficient to compensate for the absence of BMP7.
Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Kunikazu
K
Tsuji
Karen
K
Cox
Laura
L
Gamer
Daniel
D
Graf
Aris
A
Economides
Vicki
V
Rosen
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000235:genetics; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000254:growth & development; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000235:genetics*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000235:genetics*
C525810:Bmp4 protein, mouse; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7