Dorsomorphin inhibits leukocyte adhesion to the vascular wall in vivo, whereas BMP2 is up-regulated in vascular inflammation and stimulates leukocyte adhesion. (A) BMP-antagonist dorsomorphin prevents TNFα-mediated leukocyte adhesion in vivo. Four hours after injection of TNFα (10 ng/g bw IP, n = 5) alone or in combination with dorsomorphin (13 μg/g bw IP, n = 6) leukocyte adhesion was quantified by intravital microscopy of mesenterial venules. (B) BMP2 increased TNFα-induced leukocyte adhesion in vivo. C57BL/6 mice were injected with TNFα alone (10 ng/g bw IP, n = 5) or in combination with recombinant BMP2 (0.33 μg/g bw IP, n = 6). Four hours after injection leukocyte adhesion was quantified by intravital microscopy of mesenterial venules (*P < .05 versus control). (C) TNFα enhances BMP2 RNA expression. HUVECs were exposed to TNFα with indicated concentrations. Twenty-four hours after TNFα-stimulation cells were lysed and BMP2 RNA expression was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. (D) LPS increased BMP2 protein in vivo as demonstrated by Western blotting. C57BL/6 mice were injected with LPS for 3 days (2.5 μg/g/d). Lungs were minced in RIPA buffer to obtain protein. Lysates were used for Western blotting. GAPDH was used as loading control.