Osteoclast-derived serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b in Albers-Schonberg disease (type II autosomal dominant osteopetrosis).
BACKGROUND
Albers-Schönberg disease, or autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type II (ADO2), is caused by ineffective osteoclastic bone resorption resulting from mutations in the chloride channel 7 (ClCN7) gene. Individuals with ADO2 have increased numbers of large ineffective osteoclasts in addition to increased serum total tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) activity.


METHODS
We investigated the serum activity of the osteoclast-derived 5b isoform of TRACP (TRACP 5b) and concentrations of the bone formation marker osteocalcin in clinically affected individuals, unaffected gene carriers, and healthy controls from 10 ADO2 families with known ClCN7 gene mutations. Bone fracture prevalence was studied in association with the serum markers.


RESULTS
Similar to total TRACP, TRACP 5b was significantly increased in clinically affected individuals compared with age-matched controls. TRACP 5b correlated significantly with total TRACP (r = 0.833; P <0.001), suggesting that most of the TRACP in the serum of ADO2 patients is osteoclast-derived TRACP 5b. Osteocalcin was significantly increased in affected adults and slightly decreased in affected children. TRACP 5b and total TRACP were significantly increased in clinically affected individuals with severe fractures (P <0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that in ADO2, serum TRACP 5b reflects the number of osteoclasts and that the extremely high serum TRACP 5b activity is a specific indicator of the disease. Similar to total TRACP, TRACP 5b appears to be a potentially useful marker to stratify individuals with ClCN7 gene mutations into clinically affected and unaffected gene carriers. It may also have a prognostic value in the prediction of fractures in patients with a ClCN7 gene mutation.
Alatalo
Sari L
SL
Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Anatomy, University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland.
Ivaska
Kaisa K
KK
Waguespack
Steven G
SG
Econs
Michael J
MJ
Väänänen
H Kalervo
HK
Halleen
Jussi M
JM
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000201:enzymology*; D010022:Osteopetrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase
D015415:Biomarkers; C097540:CLCN7 protein, human; D018118:Chloride Channels; D007527:Isoenzymes; C000605510:ACP5 protein, human; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000071681:Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase