Abstract: Objective To observe the effects of BMP-4 on HUVECs proliferation, migration and capillary sprouting, and signal pathway involved in these biological behaviors. Methods HUVECs were treated with BMP-4. HUVEC proliferation was determined by BrdU incorporation, wound-healing was applied to observe HUVEC migration. Cell lysates were analysed by Western blotting for ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Results Treatment with BMP-4 results in dose dependent inhibition of HUVEC proliferation, migration and capillary sprouting at lower concentrations(5、10 and 20 ng/mL), but at higher dose of BMP-4(50 and 100 ng/mL), this inhibition disappeared. Conclusions HUVEC proliferation , migration and capillary sprouting induced by BMP-4 might be dependent on ERK phosphorylation.

Key words: bone morphogenetic protein, human umbilical vein endothelial cell, ERK1/2