01/09/2026
🦴Scientists may have found a way to strengthen bones for life!
In so doing, they discovered a potential treatment for the bone-weakening disease, osteoporosis, and it involves a specific cell receptor called GPR133.
In a study led by researchers from the University of Leipzig and Shandong University, activating this receptor in mice triggered a boost in bone-building activity, strengthening both healthy and osteoporotic bones. The team focused on osteoblasts, the cells responsible for bone formation, and found that when the GPR133 gene was missing, the mice developed brittle bones that mimicked human osteoporosis. But when GPR133 was activated using a compound called AP503, bone strength improved sharply. The substance acts like a switch, dialing up osteoblast activity.
The compound AP503 was identified through computer modeling and worked even better when combined with physical activity.