Research article

Expression of genes for bone morphogenetic proteins BMP-2, BMP-4 and BMP-6 in various parts of the human skeleton

Iwona Kochanowska^1* , Slawomir Chaberek^4* , Andrzej Wojtowicz^2* , Bartosz Marczyński^2* , Krzysztof Włodarski^3* , Maria Dytko^1* and Kazimierz Ostrowski^3*

¹  Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy Polish Academy of Sciences, R. Weigla 12 St., Wroclaw, 53-114, Poland

²  Department of Dental Surgery, Medical University, Chalubinskiego5, Warsaw, 02-006, Poland

³  Department of Histology, Medical University, Chalubinskiego 5, Warsaw, 02-004, Poland

⁴  Independent Orthopaedical Hospital, Konarskiego 13, Otwock, 05-400, Poland

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2007, 8:128doi:10.1186/1471-2474-8-128

Published:	27 December 2007

Abstract

Background

Differences in duration of bone healing in various parts of the human skeleton are common experience for orthopaedic surgeons. The reason for these differences is not obvious and not clear.

Methods

In this paper we decided to measure by the use of real-time RT-PCR technique the level of expression of genes for some isoforms of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), whose role is proven in bone formation, bone induction and bone turnover. Seven bone samples recovered from various parts of skeletons from six cadavers of young healthy men who died in traffic accidents were collected. Activity of genes for BMP-2, -4 and -6 was measured by the use of fluorescent SYBR Green I.

Results

It was found that expression of m-RNA for BMP-2 and BMP-4 is higher in trabecular bone in epiphyses of long bones, cranial flat bones and corpus mandibulae then in the compact bone of diaphyses of long bones. In all samples examined the expression of m-RNA for BMP-4 was higher than for BMP-2.

Conclusion

It was shown that m-RNA for BMP-6 is not expressed in the collected samples at all. It is postulated that differences in the level of activation of genes for BMPs is one of the important factors which determine the differences in duration of bone healing of various parts of the human skeleton.