Abnormal bone growth mechanism discovered
Thursday 21st July 2011
Researchers have the mechanism behind the abnormal bone growth known as heterotopic ossification that sometimes occurs due to an injured muscle.
A Northwestern University team found that a neuropeptide in the brain known as Substance P can trigger this formation of extraskeletal bone.
In hundreds of thousands of individuals, injured muscles begin growing bones.
Eliminating Substance P was seen to prevent the bone growth, according to the study which was published in the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry.
Paper co-author Frederick Kaplan said: "This work establishes a common mechanism underlying lesion induction for nearly all forms of heterotopic ossification including brain and spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, athletic injury, total hip replacement and FOP.
"These novel findings usher in a new era in understanding of these complex disorders."
In other news, research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism revealed that birth control pills can reduce bone density in women.
Written by Megan Smith
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