Researchers Identify Protein Behind Mechanism Responsible for Bone Loss

In a development that may have implications for treating periodontal disease, a team from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry has identified a protein that plays a key role in the autophagy process that can lead to bone loss.

Published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, the study, “Beclin1 Modulates Bone Homeostasis by Regulating Osteoclast and Chondrocyte Differentiation,” showed that eliminating Beclin1 raises the potential to control the level of bone loss an individual might develop. During the investigation, the team observed several models of Beclin1-enhanced combinations and determined an overexpression of Beclin1 was tied to changes in osteoclast differentiation. In a mouse model in which Beclin1 was eliminated in osteoclasts, the mice experienced thicker cortical bone, researchers report.