Method for down-regulating osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL) by enabling the production of antibodies against OPGL to treat osteoporosis

摘要

Described is a method for down-regulating the biological activity of osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL, TRANCE) thereby rendering possible the treatment/amelioration of diseases characterized by excessive loss of bone mass, e.g. osteoporosis. Down-regulation is affected by inducing an immune response against OPGL in an individual in need thereof. Immune responses can be raised by classical immunization with immunogenic variants of OPGL or by nucleic acid immunization where the nucleic acids encode the OPGL variant. Also described are compositions, polypeptides and nucleic acids, as well as vectors and transformed host cells used in the preparation thereof.