Research from Second Affiliated Hospital Yields New Findings on Extracellular Matrix Proteins (Potential Role of Odanacatib in the Treatment of Postmenopausal Intervertebral Disc Degeneration).

A recent study conducted at the Second Affiliated Hospital explored the potential role of Odanacatib (ODN), a cathepsin K (CatK) inhibitor, in the treatment of postmenopausal intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). The researchers collected disc tissues from female spinal fracture patients and analyzed the expression of CatK in different estrogen levels. They also injected ODN into ovariectomized (OVX) mice and compared the effects on disc height index, aggrecan positive area, collagen I and II, inflammatory factors, and apoptosis-related gene expression. The study found that ODN treatment could suppress the expression of MMP-3, MMP-13, caspase-3, and caspase-8, protecting the stability of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The researchers concluded that ODN has the potential to delay IVDD by suppressing apoptosis and ECM degradation. [Extracted from the article]