Carl Peters1 and Courtney Noah2
1BMG LABTECH, Cary, NC
2Enzo Life Sciences, Farmingdale, NY
Featured Product: Leading Light® Sclerostin-LRP Interaction Screening System
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Introduction
Bone remodeling is the process where bone is continually removed and replaced. Disruption of this process can lead to osteoporosis, characterized by low bone mineral density or bone thickening characteristic of sclerosterosis. Bone remodeling involves the actions of two cell types found in bone, osteoblasts (bone resorption) and osteoclasts (bone deposition). The actions of these two cell types is coordinated by a third type of bone cell called an osteocyte. Sclerostin has now been identified as a molecule expressed by osteocytes that is able to modulate the Wnt-signaling pathway which is important in regulation of bone formation. Wnt exerts its effect on bone formation by binding to the LRP 5/6–Frizzled receptor on osteoblasts. This leads to stabilization of intracellular β-catenin and regulation of transcription that promotes bone formation. By binding to the LRP 5/6 receptor sclerostin antagonizes Wnt-signaling and inhibits bone formation. Therefore treatments which block the sclerostin LRP 5/6 interaction could serve as treatments for osteoporosis.
