Drugs used to treat heart conditions can stimulate bone growth, finds a new study (IMAGE)

Ritsumeikan University

Drugs used to treat heart conditions can stimulate bone growth, finds a new study

Caption

Researchers have found that phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) inhibitors have the ability to boost long bone growth. Conventionally used to treat heart disease, thrombosis, and asthma, PDE3 inhibitors can stimulate the C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) signaling in bone cells, activating calcium influx that promotes bone growth. These findings hint that PDE3 inhibitors could potentially be repositioned as therapies for skeletal diseases. 

Credit

Associate Professor Atsuhiko Ichimura from Ritsumeikan University, Japan

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