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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: JME-10-0001v1 44/4/203    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Johnsen, I. K Articles by Beuschlein, F. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Johnsen, I. K Articles by Beuschlein, F.

Department of Medicine, Endocrine Research, University Hospital Innenstadt, Ludwig Maximilians University, Ziemssenstrasse 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany

(Correspondence should be addressed to F Beuschlein; Email: felix.beuschlein{at}med.uni-muenchen.de)

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily of ligands that impact on a multitude of biological processes including cell type specification, differentiation and organogenesis. Furthermore, a large body of evidence points towards important BMP-dependent mechanisms in tumorigenesis. In accordance with their diverse actions, BMPs have been demonstrated to serve as auto-, para- and endocrine modulators also in a number of hormonal systems. In this review, we highlight novel aspects of BMP-dependent regulatory networks that pertain to adrenal physiology and disease, which have been uncovered during recent years. These aspects include the role of BMP-dependent mechanism during adrenal development, modulating effects on catecholamine synthesis and steroidogenesis and dysregulation of BMP signalling in adrenal tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we summarize potential therapeutic approaches that are based on reconstitution of BMP signalling in adrenocortical tumour cells.