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OPG, RANKL, and RANK gene polymorphisms and the bone mineral density response to alendronate therapy in postmenopausal Chinese women with osteoporosis or osteopenia

Objective The aim of the study was to explore the association between OPG, RANKL, and RANK gene variations and the bone mineral density (BMD) response to alendronate therapy in postmenopausal Chinese women with osteoporosis or osteopenia. Materials and methods In the present study, 40 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the OPG, RANKL, and RANK genes were genotyped in 501 postmenopausal Chinese women with osteoporosis or osteopenia who were given alendronate (70 mg weekly) orally for 1 year. The BMD at the lumbar spine 1–4 (L1–L4), femoral neck, and total hip was measured. Results A total of 442 patients completed 1 year of alendronate therapy. The rs7239261 SNP of the RANK gene was significantly associated with baseline L1–L4 BMD (P=0.0004) after correction for age and BMI. Participants with the SNP A allele (C/A and A/A) had a higher BMD than those with the C/C genotype (C/A vs. C/C, P=0.001; A/A vs. C/C, P=0.025). Haplotypes AG of rs7239261-rs12969154, GG of rs3826619-rs11877530, and CACG of rs1805034-rs8083511-rs17069895-rs7231887 in the RANK gene were genetic protective factors toward a higher baseline L1–L4 BMD. No association was observed between any SNP or haplotype of the OPG, RANKL, and RANK genes and the response of BMD to alendronate therapy. Conclusion The RANK gene might contribute to genetic variability in L1–L4 BMD in postmenopausal Chinese women with osteoporosis or osteopenia. No evidence of an association between any SNP or haplotype of the OPG, RANKL, and RANK genes and the response of BMD to alendronate therapy was found in postmenopausal Chinese women with osteoporosis or osteopenia.