Newly-Discovered Protein Can Control Bone Growth
BY LAUREN UZDIENSKI, JANUARY 25, 2008
According to a new study, researchers at McGill University discovered the mechanism by which the protein osteocrin controls bone growth. Mice studies into osteocrin were conducted at Phenogene and Enobia Pharma as well as in Dr. Pierre Moffatt's lab at Montreal's Shriners Hospital for Children, and the team's data is published in the December 14, 2007 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Dr. Moffatt explained that osteocrin, which is produced by bone-forming osteoblasts, was one of the genes identified by a previous study to have possible therapeutic applications. In this study, mice were genetically engineered to over-express osteocrin, which resulted in hunchbacks and elongated bones. From there, the team discoverd that osteocrin controls a bone's supply of the hormone CNP, which in turn contributes to bone growth.
Though this fundamental research is a long way from being used as an intervention in humans, Dr. Moffatt says the mechanisms could be utilized to treat disorders that impair bone growth.
