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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney
Published on: April 22, 2011
Bone morphogenetic proteins in development and homeostasis of kidney
Petra Simic1, Slobodan Vukicevic
1Laboratory for Mineralized Tissues, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 11, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Abstract:
Bone morphogenetic proteins play a key role in kidney development and postnatal function. The kidney has been identified as a major site of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-7 synthesis during embryonic and postnatal development, which mediates differentiation and maintenance of metanephric mesenchyme. Targeted disruption of BMP-7 gene expression in mice resulted in dysgenic kidneys with hydroureters, causing uremia within 24h after birth. Several experimental animal models of acute and chronic renal injury have all unequivocally shown beneficial effect of BMP-7 in ameliorating the severity of damage by preventing inflammation and fibrosis. Apart from the beneficial effect on kidney disease itself, BMP-7 improves important complications of chronic renal impairment such as renal osteodystrophy and vascular calcification.
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