COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR INCREASING OSTEOBLAST CELL DIFFERENTIATION AND BONE GENERATION

摘要

The present invention relates to the discovery of a novel pathway for the induction of osteoblast cellular differentiation and bone generation. Specifically, the present invention envisions a novel screening tool for the determination of compounds capable of promoting osteoblast cellular differentiation that could be used in the treatment of various bone-loss or bone density decreasing disorders. The method of screening of the present invention enables one to determine whether a compound affects certain pathways that promote via direct induction, or the downregulation of inhibiting activity, the differentiation of progenitor cells into osteoblasts. This promotion of osteoblasts could provide for treatments for bone-loss or bone density disorders. The invention further encompasses methods of increasing bone density using the compounds, the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds.