Association analyses of RANKL/RANK/OPG gene polymorphisms with femoral neck compression strength index variation in caucasians

Shan Shan Dong, Xiao Gang Liu, Yuan Chen, Yan Guo, Liang Wang, Jian Zhao, Dong Hai Xiong, Xiang Hong Xu, Robert R. Recker, Hong Wen Deng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Femoral neck compression strength index (fCSI), a novel phenotypic parameter that integrates bone density, bone size, and body size, has significant potential to improve hip fracture risk assessment. The genetic factors underlying variations in fCSI, however, remain largely unknown. Given the important roles of the receptor activator of the nuclear factor-κB ligand/receptor activator of the nuclear factor-κB/osteoprotegerin (RANKL/RANK/OPG) pathway in the regulation of bone remodeling, we tested the associations between RANKL/RANK/OPG polymorphisms and variations in fCSI as well as its components (femoral neck bone mineral density [fBMD], femoral neck width [FNW], and weight). This was accomplished with a sample comprising 1873 subjects from 405 Caucasian nuclear families. Of the 37 total SNPs studied in these three genes, 3 SNPs, namely, rs12585014, rs7988338, and rs2148073, of RANKL were significantly associated with fCSI (P = 0.0007, 0.0007, and 0.0005, respectively) after conservative Bonferroni correction. Moreover, the three SNPs were approximately in complete linkage disequilibrium. Haplotype-based association tests corroborated the single-SNP results since haplotype 1 of block 1 of the RANKL gene achieved an even more significant association with fCSI (P = 0.0003) than any of the individual SNPs. However, we did not detect any significant associations of these genes with fBMD, FNW, or weight. In summary, our findings suggest that the RANKL gene may play an important role in variation in fCSI, independent of fBMD and non-fBMD components.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)104-112
Number of pages9
JournalCalcified Tissue International
Volume85
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2009

Keywords

  • Femoral neck bone mineral density
  • Femoral neck compression strength index
  • Femoral neck width
  • Quantitative transmission disequilibrium test
  • RANKL/RANK/OPG gene

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Endocrinology

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