Improving osteoblast growth through BMP-7 short peptides

Osteoblasts are mononuclear cells that are responsible for bone formation and mineralization of an osteoid matrix. Osteoblasts arise when osteoprogenitor cells are induced to differentiate under the influence of growth factors, particularly bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). So BMPs are very important for the regeneration of bone and cartilage. Especially, BMP-2 and BMP-7 are the most commonly used growth factors to improve osteoblast functions. However, the precise receptor-binding region for promoting osteoblast growth in BMPs has not been identified. Many researchers try to use short peptides to improve the growth of osteoblasts instead of the entire BMP molecule. Here, we report that some short peptides, according to residues 101~130 of the BMP-7 sequence, increase the growth of osteoblasts. As a result, peptide-b (KPSSAPTQLN) was known to increase the number of osteoblasts, as well as improve their shape.