TOPLINE:CCN3, a hormone secreted by neurons in the brain, enhances the density and strength of bone in lactating mice. This discovery could lead to new treatments for osteoporosis and improved fracture healing.
METHODOLOGY:Researchers studied the effects of CCN3 (short for cellular Communication Network Factor 3) on bone density and strength in lactating female mice using viral and genetic mouse models.A total of 20 female mice were included in the study, with some receiving injections of the AAV2-Cre vector to delete estrogen receptor alpha in the arcuate nucleus.Bone qualities were measured over a period of 17 weeks using in vivo CT imaging and histomorphometry.CCN3 expression was manipulated through injections of small interfering RNA and AAV-dj-CCN3, and its effects on bone mass were assessed.TAKEAWAY:CCN3 was found to significantly increase bone density and strength in lactating female mice.The hormone stimulated the activity of skeletal stem cells, leading to enhanced bone remodeling and fracture repair.Expression of CCN3 in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus was essential for maintaining bone density and pup survival during lactation.The study suggests CCN3 could be a potential therapeutic target for treating osteoporosis and improving fracture healing in both sexes.IN PRACTICE:”Our findings establish CCN3 as a potentially new therapeutic osteoanabolic hormone for both sexes and, importantly, define a novel lactation-induced brain hormone (LIBH) for ensuring species survival in mammals,” the authors of the study wrote.
“One of the remarkable things about these findings is that if we hadn’t been studying female mice, which unfortunately is the norm in biomedical research, then we could have completely missed out on this finding,” Holly Ingraham, PhD, of the University of California, San Francisco, said in a press release about the findings.
SOURCE:The study was led by Muriel Babey, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, and William Krause, PhD, of the University of California, Davis. It was published online on July 10, 2024 in Nature.
LIMITATIONS:The study’s findings are based on animal models, which may not fully translate to human physiology. The sample size of 20 mice is relatively small, potentially limiting the generalizability of the results. The study duration of 17 weeks may not capture the long-term effects of CCN3 on bone health. Further research is needed to confirm the hormone’s efficacy and safety in humans.
DISCLOSURES:The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (RO1DK121657-S1, NIA-1K01AG065916, 5K12GM081266, K99DK129763, AG066963, RO1DK132073, RO1AG067740, RO1AG070647, RO1AG062331, and RO1DK121657), a Stanford Pilot Award, and a Senior Scholar Award (GCRLE0320). Additional disclosures are noted in the original article.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Source : Medscape