Osteoporosis, the progressive age-related loss of bone mineral density, occurs due to an imbalance between the activities of osteoblast cells that build bone and osteoclast cells that break down bone. Both cell populations are constantly active, and thus balance must be maintained. Regulation of this balance is complicated, unfortunately, and the downstream effects of existing bone-promoting therapies are not fully understood. Researchers here investigate the mechanisms of a parathyroid hormone based treatment for osteoporosis, and find that GPRC5A expression suppresses the activity of osteoblasts. Thus inhibition of GPRC5A is a potential therapeut…
GPRC5A Inhibition as a Strategy to Enhance Bone Formation in Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, the progressive age-related loss of bone mineral density, occurs due to an imbalance between the activities of osteoblast cells that build bone and osteoclast cells that break down bone. Both cell populations are constantly active, and thus balance must be maintained. Regulation of this balance is complicated, unfortunately, and the downstream effects of existing bone-promoting therapies are not fully understood. Researchers here investigate the mechanisms of a parathyroid hormone based treatment for osteoporosis, and find that GPRC5A expression suppresses the activity of osteoblasts. Thus inhibition of GPRC5A is a potential therapeut…