Evidence that abnormal high bone mineralization in growing children with osteogenesis imperfecta is not associated with specific collagen mutations.
Osteogenesis imperfecta type I (OI-I) represents the mildest form of OI. The collagen I mutations underlying the disorder can be classified as quantitative mutations that lead to formation of a decreased amount of normal collagen or qualitative mutations where structurally aberrant collagen chains are generated. However, the phenotypic consequences of a particular mutation are not well understood. Transiliac bone biopsies from 19 young OI-I patients (age range 2.0-14.1 years) and 19 age-matched controls were used to assess bone histomorphometric parameters and bone mineralization density distribution, measured by quantitative backscattered electron imaging. Thirteen of the OI-I patients were affected by quantitative and six patients by qualitative mutations. Compared to age-matched controls, iliac bone samples in the OI group were smaller and had thinner cortices and less trabecular bone. Resorption parameters were similar between groups, whereas surface-based parameters of bone formation were considerably higher in OI patients than in controls with the exception of bone formation rate per osteoblast surface, which was reduced in OI. Backscattered electron imaging revealed a higher mean mineralization density (+7%, P < 0.001) in OI-I patients than in age-matched controls, which was accompanied by a reduced heterogeneity of mineralization (-13%, P < 0.001). However, the increase of mean degree of mineralization in OI did not exceed the average level of normal adult bone. No differences were found between the two mutation types. In summary, the tissue- and material-level abnormalities found in OI-I (low bone mass and increased mineral content of the matrix) seem to be independent of the collagen mutations.
Roschger
Paul
P
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at the Hanusch Hospital of WGKK and AUVA Trauma Center Meidling, 4th Medical Department, Hanusch Hospital, Heinrich Collin Str. 30, 1140, Vienna, Austria.
Fratzl-Zelman
Nadja
N
Misof
Barbara M
BM
Glorieux
Francis H
FH
Klaushofer
Klaus
K
Rauch
Frank
F
D000293:Adolescent; D015519:Bone Density; D001862:Bone Resorption; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics*; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010013:Osteogenesis Imperfecta / Q000235:genetics*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation
D003094:Collagen; D002118:Calcium