Patent ID: 7956237
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: A01K,A61P,C12N

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying an agent that modulates a characteristic of a bone metabolic abnormality or disorder, the method comprising: (a) providing a transgenic mouse whose genome comprises a homozygous disruption of a gene which encodes for the PRO1891 polypeptide (SEQ ID NO: 48) and which, compared with gender matched wild-type littermates, exhibits a characteristic of a bone metabolic abnormality or disorder selected from group of characteristics consisting of: decreased bone mineral density (BMD) in total body, femur and vertebrae; decreased bone mineral content (BMC) in total body, femur and vertebrae; decreased volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) in total body, femur and vertebrae; and decreased mean vertebral trabecular bone volume, number and connectivity density; (b) measuring said characteristic of the transgenic mouse of (a); (c) comparing the measured characteristic of (b) with that of a gender matched wild-type mouse; (d) administering a test agent to the transgenic mouse of (a); and (e) determining whether the test agent modulates the characteristic of a bone metabolic abnormality or disorder.