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Professor Ryu Jae-hwang Discovers Key Gene of Osteoporosis

작성자대외협력과 작성일2019.06.26 09:46 조회75



We have come a step closer to the development of new medication to treat osteoporosis, a chronic intractable bone disease thanks to the research accomplishment of a CNU professor.

Professor Ryu Jae-hwang (School of Dentistry) and MRC Center have discovered a new therapeutic target substance that can prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women by controlling bone formation and bone resorption disorders.

The increase of the elderly population has led to an increase in the number of osteoporosis patients, thereby increasing the awareness and interest in osteoporosis, as currently used therapies are showing limitations such as side effects and difficulties in taking medications. Therefore, it is urgent to conduct research to clarify the biological mechanisms that complement these shortcomings and develop new treatment methods.

Professor Ryu and his research team have discovered a key gene (HIF-2α) that plays an important role in the maintenance of bone homeostasis by regulating the differentiation and activity of osteoblasts that make bone and osteoclasts that destroy bone. The biological mechanisms they identified proved the possibility for new medication for osteoporosis.

Professor Ryu said, "This study clearly identifies the molecular mechanisms of HIF-2α-induced bone homeostasis in osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation and activation, including abnormal bone resorption and osteoporosis. It is expected to provide a new clue to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic methods. We will make significant progress in the pathophysiology and treatment of bone disease."

The research results were published on May 13, in Bone Research (Impact Factor: 12.354), the top academic journal in bone biology. This study has been conducted with the support of the Ministry of Science and ICT, and Korea Research Foundation (Basic Research Support Project to support Senior Research and Leading Research). Professor Hwang conducted the research as a corresponding author and two doctorate candidates of the research center (Lee Sun-young and Park Ka-hyun) have participated in it as first authors with an equal contribution.