ELMO1 Inhibition as a Basis for Osteoporosis Therapies

Osteoporosis is the name given to the characteristic loss of bone mass and strength that takes place with age. Bone is constantly remodeled, and this condition is the consequence of a growing imbalance between the activity of osteoclasts, responsible for breaking down bone, and osteoblasts, responsible for building bone. Researchers here make the observation that osteoclasts perform functions related to bone construction even as they break down bone, meaning that therapies intended to limit osteoclast populations may not work as well as hoped. Instead, specifically dialing back only the breakdown of bone tissue by altering regulatory proteins in osteoclasts, without dialing back their other activities, may be a better approach.

Scientists are eager to understand what causes the bone loss of osteoporosis, and to develop new ways to treat and prevent it. Researchers have found an important contributor, a cellular protein called ELMO1. This protein, they found, promotes the activity of the bone-removing osteoclasts. While osteoclasts may seem like 'bad guys' because they remove bone, they are critical for bone health, as they normally remove just enough to stimulate new bone growth. The problem arises when the osteoclasts become too aggressive and remove more bone than the body makes. Then bone density suffers and bones grow weaker.

This excessive bone degradation is likely influenced by genetic factors. They note that many of the genes and proteins linked to ELM...

Source: Fight Aging! - October 21, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs