METHODS FOR CONTROLLING MINERALIZATION OF EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX, THERAPEUTIC METHODS BASED THEREON AND MEDICAMENTS FOR USE THEREIN

摘要

The present invention relates to methods for selecting a candidate therapeutic agent for controlling mineralization of an extracellular matrix in a tissue of a subject. The invention further relates to a cell culture mineralization model comprising a culture of an extracellular matrix producing cell under conditions that support extracellular matrix formation and matrix maturation, a test compound, and means and methods for determining in expression levels of genes encoding matrix proteins.