BMPs are a class of protein. The first protein of this class was found in an experiment that was looking at bone remodeling, thus why it was called "Bone morphogenic." Many things in biology are given names based on the first place they are found and later learned to have a much broader scope. There are many different types of BMPs, most having nothing to do with stimulation of bone stem cells.
Regardless, yes, their experiment uses blood transfusions in mice. This is not a bad thing. We use blood transfusions all the time. Millions of lives have been saved because of this tool. In this case it was done to attempt to isolate the factor IN the blood that was causing the perceived phenotypes. They found that factor to be the BMP protein GDF-11.
This isolation of factors allows for future experiments to determine why GDF-11 causes a reduction in aging related phenotypes, and allows for potential therapies WITHOUT the need for transfusions, i.e. we can create the protein through more ethically favorable methodologies.
Of note, one of my graduate school professors (Hari Reddi) was the person who first isolated a protein of this class and named it a BMP. He was not the best teacher ever, but he taught us all about his experiment. It was later found to be an entire class of proteins. He said the name he gave it was regrettable.
BMPs are a class of protein. The first protein of this class was found in an experiment that was looking at bone remodeling, thus why it was called "Bone morphogenic." Many things in biology are given names based on the first place they are found and later learned to have a much broader scope. There are many different types of BMPs, most having nothing to do with stimulation of bone stem cells.
Regardless, yes, their experiment uses blood transfusions in mice. This is not a bad thing. We use blood transfusions all the time. Millions of lives have been saved because of this tool. In this case it was done to attempt to isolate the factor IN the blood that was causing the perceived phenotypes. They found that factor to be the BMP protein GDF-11.
This isolation of factors allows for future experiments to determine why GDF-11 causes a reduction in aging related phenotypes, and allows for potential therapies WITHOUT the need for transfusions, i.e. we can create the protein through more ethically favorable methodologies.
Of note, one of my graduate school professors (Hari Reddi) was the person who first isolated a protein of this class and named it a BMP. He was not the best teacher ever, but he taught us all about his experiment. It was later found to be an entire class of proteins. He said the name he gave it was regrettable.