RATIONALE Our previous studies demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) mediated, elevated expression of canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) largely accounts for the enhanced proliferation in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). In the present study, we sought to determine the signaling pathway through which BMP4 up-regulates TRPC expression. METHODS We empl...

In the developing mammalian tooth, the cranial neural crest derived dental mesenchyme consists of the dental papilla and dental follicle. The dental papilla gives rise to odontoblasts and dental pulp and the dental follicle gives rise to the periodontium, including the osteoblasts that contribute to the alveolar process. The alveolar process is a specialized intramembranous bone that forms the ...

BMPs have recently emerged as likely regulators of development of the permanent kidney (metanephros). Transcripts for BMPs and their receptors have been localised in the developing metanephros. In vitro, BMPs 2, 4 and 7 have direct or indirect roles in regulation of ureteric branching morphogenesis and branch formation. In vivo, renal phenotypes have been reported in BMP7 homozygous null mutant...

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate posttranscriptional gene expression. Several microRNAs have been described to regulate the process of angiogenesis. Previously, we have shown that bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) increased the pro-angiogenic activity of endothelial cells. In this project, we now investigated how the pro-angiogenic BMP4 effect is mediated by microR...

The formation of blood in the embryo is dependent on bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), but how BMP signaling intersects with other regulators of hematopoietic development is unclear. Using embryonic stem (ES) cells, we show that BMP4 first induces ventral-posterior (V-P) mesoderm and subsequently directs mesodermal cells toward blood fate by activating Wnt3a and upregulating Cdx and Hox genes. ...

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp4) is essential for lung development. To define the intracellular signaling mechanisms by which Bmp4 regulates lung development, BMP-specific Smad1 or Smad5 was selectively knocked out in fetal mouse lung epithelial cells. Abrogation of lung epithelial-specific Smad1, but not Smad5, resulted in retardation of lung branching morphogenesis and reduced sacculation,...

In many cases, neurons acquire distinct identities as their axons navigate toward target cells and encounter target-derived signaling molecules. These molecules generate retrograde signals that activate subtype-specific gene transcription. Mechanisms by which axons convert the complex milieu of signaling molecules into retrograde signals are not fully understood. Here, we examine retrograde sig...