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CreselleMorales

Pd4
26September2014
CurrentEvents
Title:Discoverymayleadtobettertreatmentsforautoimmunediseases,boneloss
SubjectofArticle:BoneLossCures
Sourceofarticle:ScienceDaily
DateArticlewaspublished:September252014
ResearchersatWashingtonUniversitySchoolofMedicineinSt.Louischangeda
moleculethatcontrolsimmunecellactivity,changingthemoleculestargetandalteringthe
effectsofthesignalitsends.TheyworkedwithaproteincalledRANKLthatactivatescellsthat
dismantlebones.Whenthisoccursitmakesitpossibleforanothergroupofcellstorebuildthe
bone.Butifthebonedismantlersbecomemoreactivethanthebonebuildersthanbonelossand
weakeningoccur.ResearchersmutatedcopiesofRANKLproteinsandcombinetwoofthose
copiesthatweregoodatholdingontoareceptortoonethatdidnotholdontosignalreceptors.
Wheninjectedintomiceitshowedthatthemicestoppedmakingtheproteinandstopped
breakingdownbone.ButwheninjectedwiththreecopiesofRANKLthatbindedtogetherwith
thereceptoritshowsbreakingdownofbones.
Thisarticleinnewsworthybecausecurrentlytreatmentsforbonelosshaveariskfor
infectionduetomoleculesandtheirsignalsbeingblockedoff,whichovertimewillheightenthe
riskofcancerandinfection.ThisrelatestoBiologybecauseitisdealingwithourbodies.I
learnedthattherearenewwaystocurebonelosswithouthavinglifethreateningsideeffectsand
thatbonesdismantleitselftorebuilditself.Ifeelthatitisanimportantissuebecausemany
peopledealwithbonelossandthiscanhelpthemgetacurewithoutharmfulsideeffects.

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