Variants in the RANK gene are associated with bone mineral density and fracture risk in Maltese postmenopausal women

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a progressive multifactorial skeletal disease characterised by low bone mass thereby increasing fracture susceptibility. The Receptor activator of nuclear factor Kappa B (RANK) is involved in the regulation of osteoclastogenesis via the RANK-RANK ligand-Osteoprotegerin pathway. The influence of two polymorphisms rs3018362 (A>G) and rs884205 (G>T) in the 3‘ untranslated region of this gene were analysed in relation to bone mineral density (BMD) and different low trauma fractures in Maltese postmenopausal women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1045 women were recruited and subdivided in three BMD control groups if without a fracture history: normal, osteopenic or osteoporotic. Cases were women who suffered any type of low trauma fracture. Genotyping of the rs3018362 polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digest, whereas real-time PCR was used for the rs884205 variant. Odds ratios were computed using logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and clinical risk factors.

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