Taiwan Researchers Discover Protein that Causes Osteoporosis

Researchers from the University of Cheng Kung, Taiwan discovered that the protein interleukin (IL-20) causes the osteoporosis deficiency that affect the bones. The team of Ming-Shi Chang, professor of the Biochemistry Department and Molecular Biology of the university made the discovery.

The investigation discovered that people that afflicted with osteoporosis had strong concentrations of IL-20 in their blood. The team soon developed an antibody for IL-20 which inhibited the formation of deteriorations related to osteoporosis, but only in cells and guinea pigs.

Cheng’s team continues to work on a solution to this disease while sharing their information with pharmaceutical companies to further their studies. (AV)