fectively inhibiting PAF function. To simulate menopause, these mice had their ovaries removed. The researchers found that in mice without the PAF receptor, ovarectomized mice had greatly improved bone mineral density as well as bone volume compared to ovarectomized mice that still had PAF gene function. Further molecular studies in these mice showed that osteoclasts (the bone cells that responsible for the breakdown of bone material) are responsible for PAF's mechanism of action. In addition, when mice were treated with a molecule that inhibits PAF receptor function, bone resorption was also reduced. These data indicate that inhibition of PAF activity presents a possible strategy for treating osteoporosis and other bone resoprtion diseases.

TITLE: Absence of platelet-activating factor receptor protects mice from osteoporosis following ovariectomy
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Satoshi Ishii
The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Phone: 81-3-5802-2925; Fax: 81-3-3813-8732; Email: mame@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp

View the PDF of this article at: https://www.the-jci.org/press/20504.pdf

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Immunology Link May Make You Lose Your Appetite

A decrease in food ingestion and anorexia are common symptoms during injury, illness, or inflammation. A key to the link between food intake and illness may be a recently identified molecule called ghrelin, which has previously been shown to play a part in maintaining metabolic energy balance. Now Dennis Taub and colleagues from the National Institute on Aging, have added to the ghrelin's role in the body, and show it also has activity in the immune system. They found that ghrelin receptors are expressed in cells in the immune system, and upon exposure to ghrelin, there was an inhibition of the production of molecules involved in the body's inflammatory response. The results here may furt
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Contact: Laurie Goodman
press_releases@the-jci.org
212-342-4159
Journal of Clinical Investigation
1-Jul-2004

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