Ligands of B7H receptor in the treatment of osteopenia and osteoporosis

A method of treating osteoporosis or osteopenia, comprising the steps of:

• administering to a patient a medicament comprising an isolated ligand of receptor B7h, and thereby reducing osteoporosis or osteopenia in the patient, wherein the ligand comprises:
• a) a human ICOS polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 29;
• b) a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence homology to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 29, wherein the polypeptide is capable of binding to receptor B7h;
• c) a fragment of a human ICOS polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 29, wherein the fragment is capable of binding to receptor B7h;
• d) a human ICOS extracellular domain having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2;
• e) a fragment of a human ICOS extracellular domain having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2, wherein the fragment is capable of binding to receptor B7h;
• or
• f) a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence homology to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2, wherein the polypeptide is capable of binding to receptor B7h, and
• wherein the patient
• has been diagnosed with osteopenia but has not been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.