Rare variations in WNT3A and DKK1 may predispose carriers to primary osteoporosis.

Publication/Presentation Date

10-1-2012

Abstract

Childhood-onset primary osteoporosis is manifested as reduced bone mineral density, peripheral fractures and/or vertebral compression fractures. Until now, only mutations in LRP5 have been shown to cause the disorder. Candidate gene analyses were performed on 15 patients with primary osteoporosis and 80 healthy controls using CSGE and sequencing. The genes studied included DKK1, DKK2, WNT3A, WNT10B, AXIN1, SOST, TPH1 and 5-HTR1B. Two rare variants in WNT3A (c.152A > G, p.K51R) and DKK1 (c.359G > T, p.R120L) were identified in two patients and their affected family members, but not in control subjects, suggesting a significance for the skeletal phenotype. The in vitro studies of variants showed reduced signaling activity in p.K51R-Wnt3a, while no differences were observed between the WT and variant forms of DKK1. This study addresses the role of other components of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway besides LRP5 in primary osteoporosis, and putatively associates WNT3A and DKK1 variants with the disorder. Future functional studies are needed to elucidate the functional effects of the variants.

Volume

55

Issue

10

First Page

515

Last Page

519

ISSN

1878-0849

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

22789636

Department(s)

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Document Type

Article

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