Excessive bone resorption by osteoclasts contributes to the pathology of many human diseases including arthritis, osteoporosis, periodontitis, and hypercalcemia of malignancy. During resorption, osteoclasts remove both the mineral and organic components of bone (Blair, H. C., et al., J. Cell Biol. 102:1164 (1986)). The mineral phase is solubilized by acidification of the sub-osteoclastic lacuna, thus allowing dissolution of hydroxyapatite (Vaes, G., Clin. Orthop. Relat. 231:239 (1988)). However, the mechanism(s) by which type I collagen, the major structural protein of bone, is degraded remains controversial. In addition, the regulation of osteoclastic activity is only partly understood. The lack of information concerning osteoclast function is due in part to the fact that these cells are extremely difficult to isolate as pure populations in large numbers. Furthermore, there are no osteoclastic cell lines available. An approach to studying osteoclast function that permits the identification of heretofore unknown osteoclast-specific or -related genes and gene products would allow identification of genes and gene products that are involved in the resorption of bone and in the regulation of osteoclastic activity. Therefore, identification of osteclast-specific or -related genes or gene products would prove useful in developing therapeutic strategies for the treatment of disorders involving aberrant bone resorption.
USPTO Backgrounds
USPTO Backgrounds