Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling: Implications in Urology.
10.4111/kju.2010.51.8.511
- Author:
Jeongyun JEONG
1
;
Dong Il KANG
;
Geun Taek LEE
;
Isaac Yi KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Urologic Oncology and Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. kimiy@umdnj.edu
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Bone morphogenetic proteins;
Dorsomorphin;
Signal transduction;
Transforming growth factors
- MeSH:
Adult;
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins;
Co-Repressor Proteins;
Cytoplasm;
Embryonic Development;
Female;
Homeostasis;
Humans;
Nervous System;
Osteogenesis;
Phosphotransferases;
Pregnancy;
Pyrazoles;
Pyrimidines;
Signal Transduction;
Transforming Growth Factor beta;
Transforming Growth Factors;
Urology
- From:Korean Journal of Urology
2010;51(8):511-517
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), as members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, not only control bone formation, but also regulate multiple key steps during embryonic development and differentiation. Furthermore, BMPs play critical roles in maintaining the homeostasis of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, reproductive, urogenital, and nervous systems in adult life. Like all members of the TGF-beta superfamily, BMP signaling is mediated through a heteromeric complex of type I and type II transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptors. The subsequent signal transduction cascade includes either the canonical Smad-dependent or non-canonical Smad-independent pathways. Reflecting the critical function of BMPs, BMP signaling is tightly regulated at multiple steps by various mechanisms including extracellular endogenous antagonists, neutralizing antibodies/extracellular soluble receptor domains, small molecule inhibitors, cytoplasmic inhibitory Smads, and transcriptional co-repressors. Recently, dorsomorphin, the first small molecule inhibitor of BMP signaling, was identified and suggested as a useful tool for dissecting the mechanisms of signaling pathways and for developing novel therapeutics for diverse human diseases that are related to the BMP signaling pathways. In this article, we discuss various mechanisms involved in regulating BMP signaling pathways and their implications for urology.
