Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Bone Conditioned Medium: Preparation and Bioassay
Published on: July 8, 2015
Content of bone morphogenetic protein-4 in human demineralized bone: relationship to donor age and ability to induce
Sittisak Honsawek1, Dhakoon Dhitiseith
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. fmedshs@md.chula.ac.th
Background:
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are also called growth and differentiation factors (GDFs) and form a subfamily of related proteins within the TGF-beta superfamily. BMP-4 is one ofmultifuntional growth factors with pleiotropic roles in many different cell types and is predominantly present in human bone tissue.
Objectives:
To analyze the content of extractable BMP-4 in human demineralized bone as a function of age.
Material And Method:
Bone samples were ground and demineralized by exposure to 0.5 N HCl and then extracted by collagenase digestion. Extractable BMP-4 was analyzed using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
63 samples of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) derived from 36 men and 27 women between the ages of 15-65 years. The extractable BMP-4 content appears to be age-dependent, with DBM from younger donors being most likely to have higher BMP-4 quantity. In addition, DBM with high osteoinductivity contained greater amounts of extractable BMP-4 than DBM samples with low osteoinductivity.
Conclusion:
The BMP-4 in demineralized bone undergoes age-related decrease that may contribute to the reduction of bone volume observed with aging.
Related Concept Videos
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Bone Remodeling
Bone Remodeling and Repair
The Bone Matrix
Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...

