Bone morphogenetic proteins such as BMP2 and BMP7 belong to the TGF‑β superfamily and drive the differentiation of mesenchymal cells into osteoblasts and chondrocytes, making them essential for bone and cartilage formation.
Noggin acts as a natural antagonist by binding BMPs 2, 4 and 7 and preventing receptor interaction, a mechanism used to maintain stem cell pluripotency and modulate tissue development.