Osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis take another blow - study
Researchers were able to prevent bone loss in lab mice by blocking the cellular protein ELMO1, including in two different forms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Zebra Medical Vision and Storm ID collaborate with
NHS and Assuta Medical Centers to develop solution for the early
detection of osteoporosis (photo credit: ZEBRA MEDICAL VISION)
Scientists at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine
have identified an important driver of bone loss, leading to potential treatment for osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The findings explain why specialized bone cells called osteoclasts begin to break down more bone than the body restores.
The findings were published in the scientific journal Nature Communications in August.
Osteoporosis impacts more than 200 million people globally. It
causes bone fractures in 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over age 50. Bone
loss is also seen in rheumatoid arthritis, a painful inflammatory
condition that affects up to 1% of the population.
The researchers were able to prevent bone loss in lab mice
by blocking the cellular protein ELMO1, including in two different
forms of rheumatoid arthritis. That leads researchers to believe they
may be able to target the protein in people as a way to treat or prevent
bone loss caused by osteoporosis and RA, they said.
Osteoporosis Locations. Animation in the reference. Image provided by Blausen Medical CenterWikimedia Commons
Scientists
hope to further their research to better understand what causes this
bone loss and eventually target the underlying cause to prevent or treat
bone loss.
“In
this study, we identified previously unappreciated factors that
contribute to osteoclast function that is truly exciting and opens up
new avenues to pursue," said researcher Kodi Ravichandran, chairman of
UVA’s Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, and
director of UVA’s Center for Cell Clearance.
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