Targeted Deletion of the Sclerostin Gene in Mice Results in Increased Bone Formation and Bone Strength.

The article examines how targeted deletion of the sclerostin gene in laboratory mice resulted in increased bone formation and bone strength. Sclerosteosis is a high bone mass genetic abnormality in humans caused by inactivating mutations in SOST, which in the gene encoding sclerostin. Based on this information, sclerostin has become a major negative regulator of bone mass.