Furthermore, it has been shown that the P2X7R plays an essential role in calcium signalling from osteoblasts to osteoclasts in response to mechanical stimulation [8]. Besides in vitro studies, in vivo studies showed a pro-osteogenic function for the P2X7R on bone metabolism. It was shown that mice lacking the P2X7R had significantly

reduced bone mass and increased osteoclast numbers [14]. Furthermore, the P2X7R was shown to be involved in mediation of skeletal mechanotransduction [15]. The P2X7R gene (i.e. P2RX7), located on the long arm of chromosome 12 (12q24), is highly polymorphic, and at least 11 non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have known find more effects on P2X7R function, either leading to loss-of-function or gain-of-function (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 Overview of known functional effects Selleckchem GSK3235025 of non-synonymous SNPs in the P2X7 recceptor gene.

filled double inverse triangle Complete loss-of-function polymorphisms, filled inverse triangle polymorphisms with reduced receptor function, filled upright triangle Polymorphisms with increased receptor function. N.A. Not available (no data published on this polymorphism) filled upright triangle–asterisk Polymorphism associated with increased signaling pathway receptor function likely caused through linkage with another polymorphism Three loss-of-function SNPs (Glu496Ala, Ile568Asn, Arg307Gln) and one gain-of-function SNP (Ala348Thr) were previously shown to be associated with effects on human bone. Both the Glu496Ala and Ile568Asn loss-of-function SNPs showed an association with increased 10-year fracture incidence [16, 17]. The Ile568Asn SNP also showed a positive association with effect of hormone replacement therapy on bone mineral density (BMD) [16]. In addition, the Arg307Gln SNP showed an association with greater cumulative hazard of total hip arthroplasty revision [18], increased rate of bone loss and decreased lumbar

spine BMD [19, 20]. Furthermore, subjects harbouring the Ala348Thr SNP were found to have increased BMD values as well as reduced fracture risk [17, 19]. To evaluate a possible predisposition to accelerated bone loss, Jørgensen and co-workers [19] divided subjects into three risk groups (high, intermediate and low) based on a particular combination of several loss-of-function and gain-of-function SNPs with a minor allele frequency between 1 and 3 %. Using this risk model, they demonstrated a highly significant Carbohydrate difference between the different risk groups, with individuals belonging to the high-risk group, i.e. individuals with (high risk of) impaired P2X7R function having an increased rate of bone loss. The above data suggest that the P2RX7 may prove to be an important candidate gene for osteoporosis risk estimation. Therefore, in the present study, we genotyped 15 non-synonymous P2RX7 polymorphisms in a cohort of fracture patients in the southeastern part of the Netherlands, and tested whether genetic variation in this purinergic receptor subtype was associated with BMD, i.e.