Hoechst Japan Limited

Shinji Kawai

Egon Amann

Sunao Takeshita

Makoto Okazaki

Reiko Kikuno

Atsushi Tsujimura

A bone-related protein named OSF-4 which is obtained from bone tissue of a mammal including mouse or human, and a process for its production. This protein is a novel naturally occurring mammal protein of the cadherin family. OSF-4 acts as an adhesion molecule or a growth factor which takes part in the process of osteogenesis at the site of bone induction. OSF-4 can be used as an agent for treating bone metabolic diseases, and its high organ specificity for bones enables its use as a diagnostic reagent for bone metabolic diseases.

Bone-related cadherin-like protein and process for its production

Bone-associated proteins derived from bone of mammals, including mice and human beings, named OSF-6. The protein is the novel natural type mammal protein, which can play an important role in bone formation, and belongs to a group of transcription control factors. OSF-6 can be used as a therapeutic agent for bone metabolic diseases, and also as a diagnostic agent for bone metabolic diseases, since it may demonstrate a high organ specificity to bone.

Bone-associated transcription control factor-like protein

A bone-related carboxypeptidase-like protein named OSF-5 which is obtained from bone tissue of a mammal including mouse or human, and a process for its production. This protein is a novel naturally occurring mammal protein which belongs to a group of carboxypeptidase molecules. OSF-5 acts as an adhesion molecule or a growth factor which takes part in the process of osteogenesis at the site of bone induction. OSF-5 can be used as an agent for treating bone metabolic diseases, and its high organ specificity for bones enables its use as a diagnostic reagent for bone metabolic diseases.

Growing community of inventors

Fujimi, Japan

Shinji Kawai