Antagonistic selective binding agents of osteoprotegerin binding protein

Abstract

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand is an essential cytokine for osteoclasts, the cells that promote bone resorption and bone loss, while osteoprotegerin neutralises RANKL and prevents these skeletal changes. OPG binding protein is able to block OPG and activate the receptor for RANKL, thus enhancing osteoclastic activity. This patent claims antagonistic selective binding agents of OPGbp useful as modulators of the interaction of OPGbp with the osteoclastic receptor for RANKL. It also claims invention of antibodies and antigen binding domains (including coding nucleic acids, expression vectors and host cells), which may selectively bind to OPGbp and could be used to prevent bone resorption.

• bone mass
• osteoclast
• osteoporosis
• osteoprotegerin
• osteoprotegerin binding proteins
• RANK
• RANKL