| BMP-7 - Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7
Type: TGF-β superfamily growth factor / morphogen
Function: BMP-7 is a secreted signaling protein that binds BMP type I and type II receptors and primarily activates SMAD1/5/8 signaling. It regulates differentiation, proliferation, tissue development, extracellular matrix remodeling, epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity, stem-cell behavior, immune responses, and bone formation.
Cancer: ↕ Context-dependent, with a frequent pro-tumorigenic association. Increased BMP-7 expression or signaling has been associated with tumor progression, metastasis, bone tropism, M2 macrophage polarization, immune suppression, and resistance to anticancer therapy in several cancers. However, BMP-7 can also suppress EMT, induce differentiation or senescence, and inhibit metastatic progression in selected tumor contexts.
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