Expression and understanding of LRP5 in bone formation is a keen area of research to understand how it influences bone formation. The aim is to understand osteoblast bone formation and deposition better to reach peak bone mass. The peak bone mass of an individual reaches a critical factor for the development of osteoporosis later in life.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) is a single-pass transmembrane protein. Expression of LRP5 on the surface of osteoblasts allows activation of the canonical Wnt signalling pathway. This leads to bone mass accrual as osteoblasts proliferate and differentiate. Mutations of LRP5 are linked to a reduction in bone mass. An autosomal recessive condition called osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome (OPPG) results from LRP5 mutations. Alternate mutations in LRP5 induce high-bone-mass disorders. LRP5 antibodies have been used to identify wild-type and mutant forms of the receptor from patient samples by Western blotting. Mouse calvarial explant cultures show that dominant negative LRP5 can affect bone thickness determined by von Kossa staining, which indicates the bone thickness. Recent work shows truncated LRP5 is present in hyperparathyroid tumours and breast cancer patients and is linked to the deregulation of the Wnt pathway by Western blotting. LRP5 antibody therapy is a proposed option for treating hyperparathyroid tumours and breast cancer.