骨形态发生蛋白与肿瘤

骨形态发生蛋白(bone morphogenetic proteins，BMPs)是属于转化生长因子-β超家族的一类细胞因子，在骨转化、胚胎发育及正常组织、器官的动态平衡生长中发挥重要作用。最近研究表明，BMPs及其受体一方面可通过参与肿瘤的增殖，转移，血管生成以及分化等促进肿瘤发生发展; 另一方面，却可通过上述作用成为肿瘤细胞的抑制分子。

BMPs and cancer

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) were first studied as growth factors or morphogens of the transforming growth factor-beta super family. These growth molecules, originally associated with bone and cartilage development, are now known to play important roles in morphogenesis and homeostasis in many other tissues. Recently, significant contributions of BMPs, their receptors, and interacting molecules have been linked to carcinogenesis and tumor progression. BMPs can sometimes play a role as a tumor suppressor. This article explains the composition and biological characteristics of BMPs, and investigates their new roles in the pathogenesis of cancer.