PTHrP-based prediction and diagnosis of bone disease

A method of treating a patient, having a PTHrP gene, identified with a bone disease or a predisposition or susceptibility thereto, said method comprising the administration of a treatment regime based on the allelic characterization of the VNTR region of the PTHrP gene of said patient.

A transgenic non-human mammal, wherein said mammal is (a) homozygous for disrupted PTHrP gene only in osteoblast cells of said mammal (PTHrPflox/flox crecol I), and not in non-osteoblast cells;

• (b) heterozygous for disrupted PTHrP gene (PTHrP−/+) in all cells of said mammal, wherein said all cells comprises osteoblast and non-osteoblast cells;
• or (c) heterozygous for disrupted PTHrP gene (PTHrP−/+) only in osteoblast cells of said mammal.

A single-stranded nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence comprising one or more repeats of GTATATATA and/or ATATATATA, wherein said nucleotide sequence has complimentarity to a region of a PTHrP gene.

A single-stranded oligonucleotide comprising nucleotide sequences GTATATATA and/or ATATATATA, or multiple repeats thereof, for use in identifying candidate compounds having the ability to modulate PTHrP expression.

A single-stranded oligonucleotide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID No:

• 1, or a compliment thereof.

A kit for the diagnosis and/or prediction of the susceptibility of bone disease in an individual, said kit comprising:

• a) detection means capable of identifying genetic indicators of the VNTR region of a PTHrP gene;
• and
• b) instructions for characterizing said genetic indicators and correlating a diagnosis and/or prediction of bone disease therefrom.