Technologies

Bone homeostasis is maintained by a balance between bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. The anti-inflammatory system triad composed of RANK, RANK-L, and OPG orchestrates bone homeostasis by selectively activating osteoclasts and osteoblasts in a regulated fashion. In chronic osteolytic inflammatory diseases, such as periodontitis, the failure of endogenous resolution pathways seem to lead to bone loss and tissue destruction. Precise regulation of the RANK, RANK-L, and OPG triad promises a solution to this disease and many others.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a method to regulate the RANK, RANK-L, and OPG signaling pathway. This method regulates the signaling system to limit inflammation, cancer, arthritic disease, and bone loss while promoting bone growth, remodeling, and regeneration. This method is based on the elevation and regulation of epoxy fatty acid (EpFA) levels, which is accomplished by the inhibition of the enzyme, soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). This method has proven effective to reduce bone loss in mice infected with periodontitis. Bioactive compounds are available that can be used topically for periodontal disease and have good pharmacokinetics and high oral availability for oral administration.

A method of controlling mammalian epoxy fatty acids levels in order to regulate the RANK, RANK-L, and OPG anti-inflammatory triad, thereby limiting inflammation, cancer, arthritic disease, and bone loss while promoting bone growth, remodeling, and regeneration.