BMP-7 Antibody

Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 (BMP-7), also known as osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1), is a member of the Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β) superfamily. BMP-7 plays a crucial role in the transformation of mesenchymal cells into bone and cartilage, making it a significant protein in bone homeostasis and development .

BMP-7 is involved in various biological processes, including embryogenesis, hematopoiesis, neurogenesis, and skeletal morphogenesis. It induces the phosphorylation of SMAD1 and SMAD5, which in turn activate the transcription of numerous osteogenic genes . BMP-7 is also essential in kidney development and homeostasis, inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to prevent fibrosis .

Polyclonal antibodies are produced by immunizing animals, such as rabbits, with an antigen. The immune system of the rabbit generates antibodies against the antigen, which are then harvested from the rabbit’s serum. The production process involves several steps:

1. Immunogen Preparation: The antigen (BMP-7) must be non-toxic, sterile, and free of pyrogens. It is often combined with an adjuvant to enhance the immune response .
2. Immunization: Rabbits are injected with the antigen-adjuvant mixture. Initial immunizations use Freund’s Complete Adjuvant (FCA), while subsequent immunizations use Freund’s Incomplete Adjuvant (FIA) .
3. Blood Collection: Blood is collected from the rabbits at various intervals to obtain the serum containing the polyclonal antibodies .
4. Antibody Purification: The antibodies are purified from the serum using techniques such as affinity chromatography .

The polyclonal rabbit anti-human BMP-7 antibody is used in various research applications, including:

• Western Blotting (WB): To detect BMP-7 protein in samples.
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC): To visualize BMP-7 expression in tissue sections.
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA): To quantify BMP-7 levels in biological samples .