Gremlin1 preferentially binds to bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and BMP-4 over BMP-7.

Gremlin (Grem1) is a member of the DAN family of secreted bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonists. Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) mediates protective effects during renal fibrosis associated with diabetes and other renal diseases. The pathogenic mechanism of Grem1 during diabetic nephropathy (DN) has been suggested to be binding and inhibition of BMP-7.

The Cxcl12, periostin, and Ccl9 genes are direct targets for early B-cell factor in OP-9 stroma cells.

The development of blood cells from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow is dependent on communication with bone marrow stroma cells, making these cells central for the appropriate regulation of hematopoiesis. To identify transcription factors that may play a role in gene regulation in stroma cells, we performed comparative gene expression analysis of fibroblastic NIH3T3 cells, unable to support hematopoiesis in vitro, and OP-9 stroma cells, highly efficient in this regard. These experiments revealed that transcription factors of the early B cell factor (EBF) family were highly expressed in OP-9 cells as compared with the NIH3T3 cells.

Gene expression analysis suggests that EBF-1 and PPARgamma2 induce adipogenesis of NIH-3T3 cells with similar efficiency and kinetics.

Differentiation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells into lipid-accumulating adipocytes is a physiological process induced by transcription factors in combination with hormonal stimulation. We have used Affymetrix microarrays to compare the adipogenic differentiation pathways of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts induced to undergo in vitro differentiation by ectopic expression of early B cell factor (EBF)-1 or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma2. These experiments revealed that commitment to the adipogenic pathway in the NIH-3T3 cells was not reflected in gene expression until 4 days after induction of differentiation.