Abstract

Repulsive guidance molecules (RGMs) are a group of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked cellmembrane- associated proteins recently described. RGM family members play a diverse role in axonal guidance during embryo development, neuronal cell adhesion and regulation of systemic iron metabolism. Another important role of the RGM family, discovered recently, is that they act as co-receptors of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), a group of proteins that are involved in bone development and the differentiation and progression of cancer. This indicates the potential impact of RGMs on cancer. The current review discusses the present knowledge on RGMs, their roles in BMP signalling and their potential implication in development and progression of cancer, particularly in the BMPs related bone metastasis.

Keywords: Repulsive guidance molecules (RGM), Neogenin, BMP signalling pathway, Smad, Cancer