title: Sclerostin inhibition reverses systemic, periarticular and local bone loss in arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether inhibition of sclerostin by a targeted monoclonal antibody (Scl-Ab) protects from bone and cartilage damage in inflammatory arthritis. Sclerostin is a potent inhibitor of bone formation and may be responsible for the low level of bone repair in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human tumour necrosis factor transgenic mice (hTNFtg mice) developing inflammatory arthritis and local and bone loss were administered either vehicle, anti-TNF antibody, Scl-Ab, or a combination of both agents. Inflammation, systemic and periarticular bone loss, bone erosion and cartilage damage were evaluated at baseline (week 8) and after 3 weeks of treatment by clinical assessment, micro-CT and histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scl-Ab did not affect joint swelling or synovitis. Systemic bone loss in the spine and periarticular bone loss in the proximal tibia were completely blocked and partially reversed by inhibition of sclerostin but not by inhibition of TNF. Moreover, Scl-Ab completely arrested the progression of bone erosion in hTNFtg mice and in combination with TNF inhibition even led to significant regression of cortical bone erosions. Protective effects of Scl-Ab were also observed for the articular cartilage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that sclerostin inhibition is a powerful tool to enhance bone repair in inflammatory arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine 3, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Xiao-Xiang
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schwabe
authors.forename: Hua-Zhu
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stolina
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schett
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozec
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000150:complications*; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006023:Glycoproteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C486030:Sost protein, mouse; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Anti-TNF; Bone Mineral Density; Inflammation; Rheumatoid Arthritis