Administration of zoledronic acid alleviates osteoporosis in HIV patients by suppressing osteoclastogenesis via regulating RANKL expression.

Background: Osteoporosis is a common phenomenon in HIV patients on tenofovir treatment, but its underlying mechanisms remain to be explored.

Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to analyze the expression of miR-302, miR-101, miR-145 and osteoclast-specific genes in the serum of HIV patients treated with tenofovir and ZOL. ELISA was used to evaluate the expression of RANKL, SMAD3 and PRKACB in the serum of these patients.