Patent ID: 8357637

Claim:
A method of identifying a compound useful in inhibiting osteoclast differentiation comprising, a) providing an indicator composition comprising a hematopoietic stem cell comprising an osteoclast regulator SLC4A2; b) contacting the indicator composition with each member of a library of test compounds under conditions that promote osteoclast differentiation, wherein such conditions comprise culture in the presence of Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor Kappa B Ligand (RANKL); c) evaluating (i) expression and/or activity of SLC4A2 in the indicator composition in the presence and absence of the test compound, and (ii) osteoclast differentiation in the indicator composition in the presence and absence of the test compound; and d) selecting a test compound that (i) inhibits SLC4A2 expression and/or activity in the presence of the test compound, as compared to SLC4A2 expression and/or activity in the absence of the test compound, and (ii) inhibits osteoclast differentiation in the presence of the test compound, as compared to osteoclast differentiation in the absence of the test compound, to thereby identify a compound useful in inhibiting osteoclast differentiation.