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Category: skeletal system

How can the drug Sohonos treat a disease where muscles are turning into bone?

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On November 26, 2024

In cellular basis of life, skeletal system

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of one gene, one protein
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of gene mutation leading to protein malfunction
  3. skeletal system chapter – mechanisms of intramebraneous and endochondral ossifications
  4. skeletal system chapter – differentiation of mesenchymal cells into osteoblasts during bone formation.

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared online:

US FDA approves French drugmaker Ipsen’s rare bone disorder drug

(Reuters) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday approved French drugmaker Ipsen’s drug for a rare bone disorder, making it the first treatment available to patients with the condition that causes abnormal bone growth.

The article states that the drug that was approved by the FDA treats a rare, genetic bone disorder called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. The article also states that there are about 800 people worldwide with this disease, which is characterized by abnormal bone formation.

So, Why Do I Care??  While there are relatively few people directly affected by this disorder, the family members also suffer the emotional trauma of seeing a child or young adult becoming immobilized by this disease, as there is no reversal of the formation of unwanted bone. In addition, research into finding pharmaceuticals that regulate bone formation may enlighten us to find treatment for other disorders of bone growth.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about how bone forms under normal circumstances. Bone formation is started by local hormone-like proteins, the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) instructing fibroblast-like cells, the mesenchymal cells, to change into chondrocyte (cells of the cartilage) and then into osteoblast. The instruction of BMPs is transmitted to the cell through a receptor (named ACVR1) on the fibroblast and chondrocyte cell surface. Picture a garage door-opener button on the wall of a house. The finger the pushes that button is the BMP protein, and the button is the ACVR1. When finger contacts the button, changes will happen in the house: the electric motor is turned on, and a chain pulls the garage door upward. When the BMP protein contacts the ACVR1, several chemical changes will happen in the cell, and the cell restructures itself into a chondrocyte, and then into an osteoblast, the cell that makes the mineralized bone material.

Second, let’s talk about how fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva comes about. In this disorder abnormal, unwanted cartilage and bone masses form around joints and inside skeletal muscle. While we

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Can we really make human proteins for medical treatments in lettuce plants?

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On December 10, 2022

In cellular basis of life, endocrine system, skeletal system

TeachableMedicalNews article TMN12112022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of one gene, one protein
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – protein synthesis on ribosomes
  3. skeletal system chapter – actions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in living bones
  4. skeletal system chapter – osteons and trabeculae provide structural strength to bones
  5. endocrine system chapter – actions of PTH made by parathyroid gland

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared in cyberspace:

Humans on Mars may feast on gene-edited salad to stop bones breaking

Genetically modified salad could be crucial to keeping the bones of humans on Mars healthy.

The article states that a human gene was added to lettuce, and that the human protein, parathyroid hormone (PTH), will fight the osteoporosis that astronauts develop in space. Astronauts lose 1.5% of bone mass from weight-bearing bones, and the expectation is the PTH made by the lettuce will prevent bone loss on a trip to Mars that may last for over a year.

So, Why Do I Care??  Osteoporosis, as stated in the article, weakens bones, but not only in astronauts. Over 10 million people in the US alone has osteoporosis that makes fractures more likely. PTH is currently administered through injections, so, if we could demonstrate that eating PTH-enriched lettuce, then treatment of osteoporosis may become easier.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s summarize what osteoporosis is, and how astronauts taking PTH can fight it (this was explored in detail in TMN article 11272022). The microscopic structural reinforcement structures (osteons and trabeculae) in our bones erode, gets degraded in the disorder called osteoporosis.  Imagine a tall building or a bridge; columns or pillars are the elements of structural reinforcement in them. A corrosion of those pillars and columns weakens the building, and may cause their collapse. Astronauts in space don’t have the force of gravity to stimulate bone building, so bone loss, osteoporosis develops. PTH, when administered in short bursts, stimulates osteoblasts, and increases bone formation, and that could prevent bone loss in astronauts. Although astronauts could inject themselves with PTH, however, for long spaceflights they would have to carry lots of PTH doses. It would be better if they could produce PTH during the flight itself.  Making human PTH inside a food item would create a continuous supply of PTH.

Second, let’s talk about what is entailed with the genetic engineering of the lettuce. In general, we do genetic engineering when we are adding a new gene or inactivating an existing gene in an organism.

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Can astronauts prevent bone loss by eating genetically engineered lettuce?

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On November 27, 2022

In chemical basis of life, digestive system, endocrine system, skeletal system

TeachableMedicalNews article 11272022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of one gene, one protein
  2. skeletal system chapter – actions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in living bones
  3. skeletal system chapter – osteons and trabeculae provide structural strength to bones
  4. endocrine system chapter – actions of PTH made by parathyroid gland
  5. digestive system chapter – ingested proteins are degraded by several digestive enzymes

 

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared:

Humans on Mars may feast on gene-edited salad to stop bones breaking

Genetically modified salad could be crucial to keeping the bones of humans on Mars healthy.

 

 

The article states that a human gene was added to lettuce, and that the human protein, parathyroid hormone (PTH), will fight the osteoporosis that astronauts develop in space. Astronauts lose 1.5% of bone mass from weight-bearing bones, and the expectation is the PTH made by the lettuce will prevent bone loss on a trip to Mars that may last for over a year.

So, Why Do I Care??  Osteoporosis, as stated in the article, weakens bones, but not only in astronauts. Over 10 million people in the US alone has osteoporosis that makes fractures more likely. PTH is currently administered through injections, so, if we could demonstrate that eating PTH-enriched lettuce, then treatment of osteoporosis may become easier.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what osteoporosis is. In our bones we need structural reinforcement to keep bones from fracturing when we walk, run, jump or fall. The microscopic building units called osteons and trabeculae are the structural elements that provide such reinforcement.  Imagine a tall building or a bridge; columns or pillars are the elements of structural reinforcement in them. A corrosion of those pillars and columns weakens the building, and may cause their collapse. In our bones the cells called osteoclasts erode the osteons and trabeculae, but the cells called osteoblasts repair, and, thus, reverse that erosion. In old age, or with hormonal changes, such as menopause, the osteoblasts slow down, and the osteoclasts erode osteons and trabeculae. Osteoporosis is the condition where the erosion weakens the entire bone, and fractures are more likely.

Second, let’s talk about why weightlessness leads to osteoporosis. When we move around in regular gravity, our bone cells are under pressure caused by the weight of the body. That pressure makes

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Why does the antiviral treatment of AIDS patients lead to bone fractures?

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On June 26, 2020

In cellular basis of life, skeletal system

TeachableMedicalNews article 06262020

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – transcription
  2. skeletal system chapter – actions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts
  3. skeletal system chapter– osteoclast form from monocyte
  4. microbiology – reverse transcriptase of HIV
  5. microbiology – lifecycle of retroviruses like HIV

The news item:  A recent news article reminded us the bone fractures suffered by  AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patients as the result of the side effect of their treatment:

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/07/18/gilead-hit-with-more-lawsuits-over-harmful-side-effects-of-aids-drug/

While the report is about lawsuits against the maker of one antiviral drug, the article is a reminder of the substantial bone loss in treated AIDS patients.

So, Why Do I Care??  In the USA there are over 500,000 AIDS patients who receive antiviral treatment to manage the disease. Most of them are in the 20-40 age range, so their bone health will affect them for decades of their lives. In addition, this surprise side effect may become the motivation for new research into osteoporosis, and that knowledge may improve the living conditions of all patients with osteoporosis.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what is in that antiviral pill. One component stops the reproduction of the virus; this called a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, and chemically it is a nucleotide type of chemical.  The other component stops the release of new virus particles; that is called a protease inhibitor, and chemically it is a small organic molecule.  Neither of these components target bones, so bone loss is an unexpected side effect.

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