Pitt Lab Discovers a Gene Mutation That May Lead to a New Osteoporosis Treatment

Chike Cao, Ph.D., a member of the Pitt Laboratory, determined that a gene mutation that affects a voltage-gated Ca2+ channel protein, can increase bone density. In her recent study published in JCI Insight, Cao reveals that expressing the mutant channel increases the normal production of bone-making cells. The discovery opens up the possibility to design new drugs to prevent or reverse osteoporosis