Osteopetrosis
Bones like stones, that is osteo-petrosis. It is the opposite of osteoporosis, porous bones. Osteopetrosis is a disruption of bone metabolism so that mineralization by osteoblasts predominates over demineralization by osteoclasts. Mice lacking almost all genes, i.e. knockout mice, are now available. To determine which body tissues require the inflammatory transcription factor, NFkB, NFkB knockout mice were engineered and their characteristics were carefully analyzed. Their bones kept mineralizing and mineralizing and mineralizing. NFkB function was required for the development and function of osteoclasts, the macrophage-derived cells that remove bone. Inactivation of osteoclasts or inhibition of osteoclast development by bisphenols, such as Boniva, leads to a minor version of osteopetrosis. Killing osteoclasts leads to a reversal of osteoperosis. An omega-3 fatty acid deficient diet leads to osteoporosis in mice. Omega-3 fish oil has been used to reduce inflammation induced bone...