Advanced Science
Immune protein has opposing roles in bone as animals age
Animal experiments found that loss of an immune-signaling protein harmed early bone development but protected against age-related bone loss from middle age onward.Animal experiments found that loss of an immune-signaling protein harmed early bone development but protected against age-related bone loss from middle age onward.
Mouse studyImmune response
Who was studiedMale mice, against control littermates
What changedSTING-deficient mice had lower bone mass early in life but lost bone more slowly than controls from middle age onward
The catchSTING deletion also affected osteoclast precursors, complicating attribution of bone changes to macrophages