MOLECULAR TARGET AND COMPOUND USEFUL FOR THERAPY OF DEGENERATIVE DISEASE IN BONE AND JOINT, AND IDENTIFICATION METHOD THEREOF

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for identifying an action substance capable of inhibiting expression or activity of a protein involved in process of regulating osteoclastogenesis, where the inhibition is useful for prevention and/or therapy of a degenerative disease in a bone and a joint and a disease involving abnormal activity or differentiation of osteoclast.SOLUTION: The method comprises the steps of: contacting a population of mammalian cells expressing osteoprotegerin with a compound markedly inhibiting expression or activity of the polypeptide; and identifying a compound inhibiting bone resorption. Specifically, the present invention relates to an identification method of an action substance for use in prevention and/or therapy of rheumatoid arthritis.