(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A surprising new discovery in how bones grow may
lead to a novel treatment of osteoporosis.
Bone growth is controlled in the gut through serotonin, a chemical in the brain
that also influences mood, appetite and sleep. Researchers have known that 95
percent of the body’s serotonin is produced by the duodenum, a part of the
gastrointestinal tract, while the brain generates the other five percent.
While studying how two rare human diseases impact bone, researchers at Columbia
University Medical Center in New York, N.Y., realized they can control the
formation of bone by turning a gene mutation on or off. The mutation is on a
gene called Lrp5. They discovered serotonin tells skeletal cells to slow the
production of new bone.
The team was able to prevent osteoporosis in mice undergoing menopause by
shutting off the intestine’s release of serotonin. Most current osteoporosis
drugs prevent the breakdown of old bone, but do not create new bone. This new
finding offers hope to those patients suffering from the disease.
“Our hope is that this novel discovery will inform the development of new
therapies for the millions of people with osteoporosis” Gerard Karsenty, M.D.,
Ph.D., chair of the Department of Genetics and Development at Columbia
University College of Physicians and Surgeons, was quoted as saying.
SOURCE: Cell, November 2008
