Abstract:

Stimulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) causes mesenchymal stem cells of the human bone marrow differentiate into adipocytes instead of osteoblasts leading to a decreased number of osteoblasts and a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD). Thus, PPARs may have impacts on bone metabolism. 224 postmenopausal women (171 osteoporotic and osteopenic, 53 healthy control) were included in this study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and agarose gel electrophoresis techniques were performed to detect PPARα L162V and PPARγ Pro12Ala/C161T polymorphisms. The distribution of PPARγ Pro12Ala genotype and allele frequencies was not statistically different in control and patient (osteopenic+osteoporotic) groups (p>0.05). However, in the patient group, subjects with “Pro12Pro” genotype had lower lumbar spine (L1-L4) BMD values than those with “Ala” allele (p<0.05). The frequency of PPARγ C161T “CC” genotype was higher in the patient group when compared with that in the control group (p<0.05). There were no significant associations between the genotype and allele frequencies of PPARγ C161T/ PPARα L162V and BMD values (p>0.05). We suggested that PPARγ Pro12Ala and C161T gene variants might be contributing factors in the development of osteoporosis. 

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