Protein discovery brings hope of new treatments for arthritis and osteoporosis

Posted on 2008-09-30 08:18:25 in Arthritis | Bone and Dental | Osteoporosis |

British researchers have identified a protein that could lead to the development of new treatments for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

In normal circumstances, the protein TSG-6 works to maintain a healthy balance between bone formation and bone breakdown. New research led by Dr Afsie Sabokbar from Oxford University and Professor Tony Day of the University of Manchester, has revealed that TSG-6 also protects against inflammation. Furthermore, in the presence of inflammation TSG-6 actively inhibits bone erosion, thus suggesting that it may have the power to stop the excessive erosion that occurs in arthritis and osteoporosis.

The researchers are now investigating the molecular basis of TSG-6 function to evaluate how it could be used therapeutically. “To have a naturally occurring substance that can effectively inhibit bone erosion would be a major breakthrough,” said Professor Day in a news release issued by Oxford University. “We are now scaling up production of TSG-6 for further studies with the aim of producing an optimized form of this protein that can form the basis of pre-clinical and hopefully, in the longer term, clinical trials.”

Mahoney DJ, Mikecz K, Ali T, Mabilleau G, Benayahu D, Plaas A, Milner CM, Day AJ, Sabokbar A. TSG-6 Regulates Bone Remodeling through Inhibition of Osteoblastogenesis and Osteoclast Activation. J Biol Chem. 2008 Sep 19;283:25952-25962.

News release: Protein hope for arthritis sufferers. University of Oxford Website. September 29th 2008.

 

Health Headlines MORE »

Knock Out Anxiety
Among women with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), regular physical activity helps to reduce anxiety, irritability, feelings of tension, low energy and pain.
Magnesium Helps to Reduce Stroke Risk
For every 100 mg per-day increase in magnesium in the diet, stroke risk may decline by up to 9%.
Senior Runners Continue to Excel
The best male marathon runners over age 65, and the best female marathon runners over age 45, continue to consistently improve their performance.
Stem Cell Therapy Restores Vision
UCLA-led team safely uses human embryonic stem cells to treat macular degeneration.
Beware the Office Air
First-of-its-kind study reports that indoor air in offices is an important source of worker exposure to potentially toxic substances.
One in Five US Adults Afflicted with Mental Illness
Twenty percent of Americans ages 18+ experienced a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in 2010.
Vitamin D Helps to Combat Vision Loss
In a lab animal model, vitamin D reduced the effects of aging in the eyes and improved the vision of older animals.
Cord Stem Cells Converted into Other Cell Types
For the first time ever, stem cells from umbilical cords have been converted into other types of cells, paving the way for new treatment options for spinal cord
Vitamin E Exerts Role in Brain Health
People affected by Alzheimer's disease are more likely to have low blood levels of vitamin E, as compared to people with normal cognitive function.
VR Exercise Boosts Cognitive Health
Virtual reality (VR)-enhanced exercise, that combine physical exercise with computer-simulated environments and interactive videogame features, yield a greater
Anti-Aging Forum Anti-Aging Forum Anti-Aging Forum Anti-Aging Forum
Anti-Aging textbook Anti-Aging Forum MLDP Anti-aging jobs Join A4M
ANTI-AGING TIP OF THE DAY
Good Habits Lead to Good Health
In that a number of studies link unhealthy behaviors to accelerated declines in thinking and memory skills, these also can readily be remedied. Researchers from the Hopital Paul Brousse (France) studied 5,123 men and women civil service office workers in London enrolled in the Whitehall II study. Subjects were surveyed for health behaviors (smoking, dietary habits, daily activity) at 44 years of age, 56 years, and 61 years...
» MORE