NCKU research team discovers key protein in treating osteoporosis - China Post
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
CNA
TAINAN--A National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) research team has discovered that a protein called interleuk in (IL)-20 is a key to treating osteoporosis, a disease that lowers a person's bone density.
The discovery by the team led by Ming-Shi Chang, professor of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine and has drawn huge attention in the academic circle and the biotechnology industry.
The chief editor of Nature Reviews wrote a research highlight in the Sept. issue of Nature Reviews Rheumatology commenting on this finding while the Science-Business e--change published a cover story reporting on the discovery in the same month.
Interleukin (IL)-20 is a protein secreted by the immune system. When it is overproduced, it causes inflammation and destroys tissue, leading to chronic diseases.
There are two types of bone cells: osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Bone mineral density is determined by the balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The association between IL-20 and osteoporosis has never been explored.
Chang's team has discovered that osteoporosis patients have higher than normal amounts of IL-20 in their blood, which suggests that IL-20 is involved in the progression of the disease. IL-20 increases the amount of two proteins important for bone metabolism-RANK on osteoclast precursors and RANKL on osteoblasts-and so stimulates osteoclast formation.
Ming-Shi Chang's team has provided evidence that IL-20 is a novel and undiscovered molecule involved in the formation of osteoclasts — a revolutionary discovery and a significant contribution to basic medicine.
The team has also showed that IL-20 is a novel target for osteoporosis and the IL-20 antibody could be a potent new anti-osteoporosis drug that will have a significant effect on biotechnology.
CNA
TAINAN--A National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) research team has discovered that a protein called interleuk in (IL)-20 is a key to treating osteoporosis, a disease that lowers a person's bone density.
The discovery by the team led by Ming-Shi Chang, professor of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine and has drawn huge attention in the academic circle and the biotechnology industry.
The chief editor of Nature Reviews wrote a research highlight in the Sept. issue of Nature Reviews Rheumatology commenting on this finding while the Science-Business e--change published a cover story reporting on the discovery in the same month.
Interleukin (IL)-20 is a protein secreted by the immune system. When it is overproduced, it causes inflammation and destroys tissue, leading to chronic diseases.
There are two types of bone cells: osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Bone mineral density is determined by the balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The association between IL-20 and osteoporosis has never been explored.
Chang's team has discovered that osteoporosis patients have higher than normal amounts of IL-20 in their blood, which suggests that IL-20 is involved in the progression of the disease. IL-20 increases the amount of two proteins important for bone metabolism-RANK on osteoclast precursors and RANKL on osteoblasts-and so stimulates osteoclast formation.
Ming-Shi Chang's team has provided evidence that IL-20 is a novel and undiscovered molecule involved in the formation of osteoclasts — a revolutionary discovery and a significant contribution to basic medicine.
The team has also showed that IL-20 is a novel target for osteoporosis and the IL-20 antibody could be a potent new anti-osteoporosis drug that will have a significant effect on biotechnology.
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