Molecular targets and compounds, and methods to identify the same, useful in the treatment of bone and joint degenerative diseases
OwnerReginald Christophe Xavier Brys, Nick Ernest Rene Vandeghinsteinventors
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Abstract
The present invention relates to methods for identifying agents capable of inhibiting the expression or activity of proteins involved in the processes modulating osteoclastogenesis, which inhibition is useful in the prevention and/or treatment of bone and joint degenerative diseases and diseases involving aberrant activity or differentiation of osteoclasts. In particular, the present invention provides methods for identifying agents for use in the prevention and/or treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Claims37
A method for identifying a compound that inhibits bone resorption, comprising:
- (a) contacting a compound with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
- 41-69 and 80, and fragments thereof;
- and
- (b) measuring a compound-polypeptide property related to bone resorption.
An agent effective in inhibiting bone resorption, selected from the group consisting of an antisense polynucleotide, a ribozyme, and a small interfering RNA (siRNA), wherein said agent comprises a nucleic acid sequence complementary to, or engineered from, a naturally-occurring polynucleotide sequence of about 17 to about 30 contiguous nucleotides of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
- 1-29 and 40.
A method for diagnosing a pathological condition involving abnormal bone resorption or a susceptibility to the condition in a subject, comprising determining a first amount of polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
- 41-67 and 80 present in a biological sample obtained from said subject, and comparing said first amount with the ranges of amounts of the polypeptide determined in a population of healthy subjects, wherein an increase of the amount of polypeptide in said biological sample compared to the range of amounts determined for healthy subjects is indicative of the presence of the pathological condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.