Abstract: AIM To investigate the expression of BMP4 and BMP7 in arteries and fat tissue and the relationship between arterial vascular inflammation and ratio changes of serum BMP4 / BMP7 in obese mice. METHODS Eight 4-week-old ob / ob mice were used as the obese group and eight C57 BL /6 mice were used as the normal group. After a 12-week full diet,the blood,abdominal aorta and inguinal adipose tissue were collected after all animals were sacrificed and the expressions of protein and mRNA of BMP4,BMP7,IL-1β,IL-9 and p-Smad1 were detected using quantitative PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS Serum expression of BMP4 in the obese group was significantly higher than in the normal group and no significant changes in BMP7 expression were found between groups. Ratio of BMP4 / BMP7 in the obese group was significantly higher than in the normal group( P < 0. 05). Expressions of BMP4 protein and mRNA level in the arteries in obese group were higher than those in the normal group but were lower in adipose tissues in obese group. BMP7 protein and mRNA expressions showed no clear difference in arteries and adipose tissues between groups. Ratio of BMP4 mRNA / BMP7 mRNA showed obvious difference in the arteries between groups( P < 0. 05),but no significant difference in adipose tissue was observed between groups. Inflammations measured by mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β and IL-9 in the arteries and obesity in obese group were higher than in the normal group( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION There is obvious inflammation in the artery of obese mice,which may be related to the increasing ratio of BMP4 / BMP7.