Bone morphogenetic protein–7 (BMP–7), a neglected player in hepatic fibrosis?

Aims: BMP–7 is a member of the TGF-β superfamily, that has been shown to counteract the profibrogenic signaling of TGF-β [1] The supplementation of exogenous recombinant BMP–7 suppresses experimental renal fibrosis [2]. In vitro BMP–7 antagonizes TGF-β1-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The expression and putative function of BMP–7 in the process of liver fibrosis, however, has not been analyzed so far. Methods: In the current study we elucidate the expression of BMP–7 by RT-PCR using total liver RNA from bile duct-ligated rats or untreated controls as well as RNA from cultured isolated rat liver…