New treatment against osteoporosis?

A new brain hormone has just been discovered in animals. It could have applications in various pathologies requiring bone solidification. Focus on maternal brain hormone ...

Osteoporosis affects around 200 million people worldwide. This medical condition is characterized by 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, which can lead to fractures. It is particularly prevalent in women during the 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞, as estrogen production declines. This hormone is 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. However, its production also declines during breastfeeding, without increasing the risk of fractures. This was precisely the question that interested a team from San Diego.

These researchers recently published in 𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 the discovery of 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞 (CCN3) in animals. Their study showed that this hormone 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬, in both young and old individuals. The researchers also investigated how CCN3 supplementation could be administered using a 𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡, with direct administration to a fracture, for example. The results in senior mice were promising.

Beyond osteoporosis, several populations and medical conditions may present an increased risk of fractures, such as women with 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 treated with hormone therapy, and 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬.