By Alexander Bell
AbstractWe have shown that osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) (bone morphogenetic protein-7) is responsible for the induction of nephrogenic mesenchyme during embryonic kidney development. Gene knock-out studies showed that OP-1 null mutant mice die of renal failure within the first day of postnatal life. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of recombinant human OP-1 for the treatment of acute renal failure after 60 min bilateral renal artery occlusion in rats. About 0.5% of the administered OP-1 dose/g tissue is targeted for OP-1 receptors in the kidney. Collectively, these data suggest that OP-1 prevents the loss of kidney function associated with ischemic injury and may provide a basis for the treatment of acute renal failure.
