Bone Morphogenetic Proteins and Adipocyte Differentiation

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) regulate many processes during embryogenesis and morphogenesis. However, the role of this family of proteins in adipogenesis appears to be underappreciated in the field of developmental biology. In the past fifteen years, our concept of adipose tissue has undergone a radical transformation: initially viewed as an inert mass for energy storage, adipose tissue is now seen as an endocrine organ with an important role in the regulation of wholebody energy homeostasis. Interest in adipocyte differentiation has increased markedly in the past few years with major emphasis on transcriptional controls during adipocyte formation. Clearly, much remains to be learned about adipogenesis. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the roles of BMPs in adipogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells and committed preadipocytes, and ultimately their potential involvement in the regulation of energy metabolism.