Scientists have discovered a link between the chemoattractant sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and bone density. Osteoclasts are cells that resorb bone cells and S1P is thought to have chemotaxic influence on immature osteoclast migration from the lymph node to the bone. In osteoporosis, osteoclast activity outpaces bone building by osteoblast cells. Because osteoclasts develop from the same stem cells as white blood cells already known to be responsive to S1P, Dr. Ishii, a rheumatologist of Osaka University suspected that S1P may also have the same cytokinetic affect on osteoclasts. Bones in mice with functioning S1P receptors was denser than those mice without. Postmenopausal mice given FTY720, a synthetic S1P activator, also had denser bones than the control group. This study may give rise to new approaches to combat osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis since current methods mostly target mature osteoclast cells. This approach is a novel combination of immunology and orthopedic medicine.
http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2009/bone_S1P.htm
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