title: Transcriptional up-regulation of BMP-4 and BMPR-II genes in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients: A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) super family, which are primarily known for their inherent role in osteogenesis and ontogenesis. Accumulating evidence suggests the regulatory role of BMP-4 in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and thus a possible oncogenic role.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Variable cellular expression and in vitro functional assays are indicative of the involvement of BMP related signaling in Breast cancer (BC). The differential expression of BMP-4 in the peripheral blood of BC patients may therefore be considered as a potential biomarker. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate transcriptional expression of BMP-4 and its cognate receptor BMPR-II in the peripheral blood from the BC patients in relation to the healthy individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression pattern of BMP-4 and BMPR-II was analyzed in the blood of breast cancer patients (n = 22) and healthy controls (n = 22) through Semi Quantitative Reverse transcription Polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An up-regulated expression of BMP-4 and BMPR-II was observed in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients especially in the advanced-stage of the disease. Moreover, BMP-4 and BMPR-II expressions were found to be correlated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current preliminary results based on the transcriptional analysis suggest the prospective use of BMP4 as a biomarker, however further validation is required.
authors.affiliation: Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Summer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.affiliation: Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sheeba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murad
authors.affiliation: Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Naureen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ehsan
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bloodsworth
authors.affiliation: Quaid-e-Azam, University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aneesa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine of Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI), Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faheem
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000097:blood*; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C525809:BMP4 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; C498218:BMPR2 protein, human; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II
keywords: BMP-4; BMPR-II; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); RT-PCR; breast cancer (BC)