The present inventors discovered that knockout mice whose S1-5 gene
function is lost develop age-related diseases or symptoms. Histological
analysis in such knockout mice revealed that bone mineral content, bone
mineral density, and bone strength were decreased, and the number of
osteoclasts in bone tissues was increased. Analysis of osteoclast-forming
ability using bone marrow cells derived from the knockout mice revealed
that osteoclast-forming ability is enhanced and osteoclasts are larger in
the knockout mice than in wildtype mice. When purified S1-5 protein was
added to this in vitro system, osteoclast-forming ability was inhibited.