TITLE: A Novel Hormone that Promotes Bone Resorption and Uses Thereof
INVENTORS: Yihong Wan
TECHNOLOGY: Biologicals
UTSD: 2622
SUMMARY: We have identified a novel endocrine hormone that is secreted in response to
physiological or pharmacological cues to promote osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption.
Preclinical studies in mice show that pharmacological blockade of this hormone with an antibody
suppresses bone resorption and increase bone mass, whereas pharmacological treatment with
this hormone elevate bone resorption and decrease bone mass. As a result, the blocking
antibody for this hormone effectively attenuates the bone resorption and bone loss induced by
ovariectomy, an experimental model for menopause. Furthermore, the serum level of this
hormone is up-regulated by FGF21, a promising drug candidate for obesity and diabetes that is
investigated by several pharmaceutical companies and currently in clinical trials. Our previous
study indicates that FGF21 causes bone loss in mice by simultaneously increasing bone
resorption and decreasing bone formation. Intriguingly, we have found that genetic or
pharmacological blockade of this novel pro-osteoclastogenic hormone specifically abolishes
FGF21-induced bone resorption and bone loss without compromising the FGF21-mediated
insulin-sensitizing benefits. Therefore, this novel hormone may represent a new biomarker for
osteoporosis as well as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of bone loss triggered by
various metabolic diseases or drugs.
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Please reference UT Southwestern Case Number: 2622