Compositions and methods for the treatment of bon diseases, bone fractures,bone injuries and other bone abnormalities involving the use of Dkk protein, aWnt antagonist, a Wnt inhibitor, or any other related protein for thestimulation or enhancement of mineralization and for stimulating the renewalof cells. One Dkk protein, Dickkopf-2 (Dkk-2) acts to stimulate bone formationindependently of Wnt proteins which may be inhibited and/or antagonized by Dkk-2. Dkk-2 displayed enhanced specific targeting ability and enhanced biologicalactivity in stimulating or enhancing mineralization. Dkk-2 also played a rolein the differentiation and self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells andmesenchymal stem cells, particularly in osteoblastogenesis andosteoclastogenesis.
