| abstract |
The present invention relates to a novel osteoclast growth regulatory factor, hereinafter referred to as "osteoclastpoietic factor (OPF)", which stimulates the formation of osteoclast bone cells, a process of preparing same, therapeutic and diagnostic uses thereof, antibodies to and antagonists of OPF, and assays for OPF, all of which relate to the development of therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of diseases involving bone tissue, for example, osteoporosis, paget's disease and osteopetrosis. |