title: The role of BMP2 signaling in the skeleton.
abstract: While new roles for the adult skeleton as an endocrine organ continue to emerge, our understanding of how bone homeostasis is maintained is also changing. Here we focus on BMP2, a molecule identified by its ability to induce bone formation at extraskeletal sites. We detail specific roles for BMP2 in the adult skeleton, where it acts to regulate the differentiation of periosteal skeletal progenitors during fracture healing and also mediates osteoblast formation in the bone marrow microenvironment. We highlight two areas of BMP2 biology that deserve further study: the specific signaling pathways used by BMP2 to affect bone formation, and the factors that regulate BMP2 production in the adult skeleton. These activities serve to distinguish BMP2 from other members of the TGF-b/BMP/Activin gene superfamily.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lowery
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pazin
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Intini
authors.forename: Shoichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kokabu
authors.forename: Vivianne
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chappuis
authors.forename: Luciane P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Capelo
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C525718:BMP2 protein, human; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D028341:Activins; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II