lp533401 and Osteogenesis-Imperfecta

The molecular elucidation of two human skeletal dysplasias revealed that they are caused by an increase or a decrease in the synthesis of serotonin by enterochromaffin cells of the gut. This observation revealed a novel and powerful endocrine means to regulate bone mass. Exploiting these findings in the pharmacological arena led to the demonstration that inhibiting synthesis of gut-derived serotonin could be an effective means to treat low-bone-mass diseases such as osteoporosis.

Topics: Animals; Bone Density; Clinical Trials as Topic; Duodenum; Female; Humans; LDL-Receptor Related Proteins; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5; Mice; Osteogenesis Imperfecta; Osteoporosis; Pyrimidines; Rats; Serotonin; Serotonin Antagonists; Tryptophan Hydroxylase