Abstract:

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) are multi-potential growth factors, which belong to transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily. BMP are involved in a lot of physical and pathophysiological process, including embryogenesis, skeletal formation and fibrosis. Fibrosis is the crucial pathologic change of many ophthalmological diseases, such as keratohelcosis, glaucoma, myopia and retinal detachment. These fibrotic diseases are characterized by trans-differetiation from the various cells to fibroblasts. It highlights the functions of BMP in fibrotic diseases in ophthalmology. Recent studies suggest important roles of BMP subtypes BMP2, BMP4 and BMP7 in the suppression of fibrosis. These evidences imply that BMP4 and BMP7 might become new drugs to the fibrosis to be deeply researched.   (Int Rev Ophthalmol,  2016,  40:     136-139)