The present invention relates to a method for promoting osteogenesis by
contacting osteoblast progenitor cells with an LXR agonist. Said method
is useful for the treatment or prevention of an imbalance in bone
homeostasis in a subject using bone homeostasis-promoting compositions
comprising an effective osteogenic stimulating amount of an LXR agonist
in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A further aspect
is a method to produce bone tissue in vitro by contacting an LXR agonist
with a population of osteoblast progenitor cells on a substrate, for a
time sufficient to stimulate the generation of a matrix of bone tissue.