Protein with anti-inflammatory properties

A method of treating a condition in a human subject, the condition being characterized by excessive osteoclastogenesis and/or bone resorption, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically-effective amount of an isolated or recombinant protein comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:

• 3 or SEQ ID:
• NO:
• 4, wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and bone loss associated with cancer, and wherein the administration reduces M-CSF signaling, reduces RANKL signaling, and reduces activation of essential osteoclastogenic transcription factors NF-κB, c-Fos and NFATc1 in osteoclast precursors and reduces osteoclast differentiation and/or reduces bone resorptive activity in the subject.