BACKGROUNDGenetic factors are important in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, but less is known about the genetic determinants of osteoporosis treatment. We aimed to explore the association between the gene polymorphisms of key enzyme farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FDPS) in mevalonate signaling pathway of osteoclast and response to alendronate therapy in osteoporotic postmenopausal women in China.

METHODSThe study group comprised 639 postmenopausal women aged (62.2 ± 7.0) years with osteoporosis or osteopenia who had been randomly assigned to low dose group (70 mg/2 w) or standard dose group (70 mg/w) of alendronate in this 1-year study. We identified allelic variant of the FDPS gene using the polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme Faul. Before and after treatment, serum levels of calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cross linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX) were detected. Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine and proximal femur was measured. The association was analyzed between the polymorphisms of FDPS gene and the changes of BMD, bone turnover biomarkers after the treatment.

RESULTSThe FDPS rs2297480 polymorphisms were associated with baseline BMD at femoral neck, and patients with CC genotype had significantly higher baseline femoral neck BMD ((733.6 ± 84.1) mg/cm(2)) than those with AC genotypes ((703.0 ± 86.9) mg/cm(2)) and AA genotypes ((649.8 ± 62.4) mg/cm(2)) (P < 0.01). No significant difference in BMD at lumbar spine was observed among different genotypes of FDPS. The percentage change of serum ALP level was significantly lower in patients with CC genotype (-22.9%) than that in those with AC genotype (-24.1%) and AA genotype (-29.8%) of FDPS after 12 months of alendronate treatment (P < 0.05). Neither percentage change of BMD nor β-CTX level after alendronate treatment had association with FDPS genotype.

CONCLUSIONSFDPS gene was probably a candidate gene to predict femoral neck BMD at baseline. FDPS gene alleles could predict change percentage of ALP after treatment of alendronate, but possibly had no significant relationship with the responsiveness of BMD to alendronate therapy.