Low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 gene polymorphisms and osteoporosis in Thai menopausal women.

Background: Osteoporosis, characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and high bone fracture risk, is prevalent in Thai menopausal women. Genetic factors are known to play a key role in BMD. Low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5), a co-receptor in the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, is involved in many aspects of bone biology.

ID4 gene polymorphism and osteoporosis in Thai menopausal women.

Background: The inhibitor of DNA binding 4 (ID4) protein regulates osteogenic and adipogenic cell fate and lack of lD4 gene expression decreased osteoblast differentiation. Variant in the ID4 gene polymorphism has not been reported with osteoporosis.

Objective: To identify whether ID4 can be a marker gene for osteoporosis in Thai menopausal women.

Hypomethylation of Alu elements in post-menopausal women with osteoporosis.

A decrease in genomic methylation commonly occurs in aging cells; however, whether this epigenetic modification leads to age-related phenotypes has not been evaluated. Alu elements are the major interspersed repetitive DNA elements in humans that lose DNA methylation in aging individuals. Alu demethylation in blood cells starts at approximately 40 years of age, and the degree of Alu hypomethylation increases with age.

Association of MTHFR C677T polymorphism with bone mineral density of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Thai women.

Background: Osteoporosis and osteopenia is rising with the increase in numbers of postmenopausal women. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a homocysteine catabolizing enzyme, is involved in the regulation of bone mineral density (BMD). The association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism with osteoporosis in postmenopausal Thai women is hitherto unclear.

Decreased retinol transport proteins in Thai post-menopausal women with osteoporosis.

High vitamin A ingestion or high serum retinol have been postulated to increase the risk of fractures and osteoporosis by reduced bone mineral density (BMD). Retinol is carried and transported to the tissues bound to retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and transthyretin (TTR). The relationships between retinol, retinol transport protein, retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and transthyretin (TTR) and BMD and osteoporosis are unclear.