Spezifität
This antibody recognises the disulphide-linked homodimeric cysteine knot protein known as human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 (BMP-7) or Osteogenic protein 1 (OP-1). BMP-7 is a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B) superfamily and one of a number of osteogenic proteins shown to induce bone and cartilage formation, and to play an important role in developmental processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and morphogenesis.BMPs act through binding with a receptor complex consisting of type I and type II serine/threonine kinases, resulting ultimately in the activation of the Smad protein and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Several antagonist proteins, including, noggin, chordin, gremlin and follistatin, are responsible for modulating the signaling effects of BMPs, through the binding and blocking of receptor ligands, thereby preventing activation.BMP-7 is involved during ontogeny of the kidney with prominent expression in renal tubules. Experimental diabetic nephropathy indicates BMP-7 has antifibrogenic properties and appears to act as an antagonist to TGF-Beta (Wang et al. 2001 & Godin et al. 1998).