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Discovery could lead to new RA, bone loss meds

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Discovery could lead to new RA, bone loss meds

(CBC News) UPDATED 2008-08-22

A team of scientist has uncovered new details about how rheumatoid arthritis (RA) destroys bone. RA patients' immune systems produce too much of a chemical known as TNF alpha, which leads to the destruction of cartilage and bone. TNF alpha also reduces bone mass by interfering with bone-building cells known as osteoblasts, though scientists have not understood how this process works. Now researchers have found that TNF alpha affects these osteoblasts through an enzyme known as Smurf1, which turns off proteins that build bone. Investigators say this finding is already helping to create new drugs could treat RA and bone-loss conditions such as osteoporosis. Read full story >

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