Sclerostin as a Genetic Determinant of Trabecular Bone Score in Postmenopausal Women: The Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) Program

Mohammad  Bidkhori; Mahdi  Akbarzadeh; Noushin  Fahimfar; Reihane Seifi  Moroudi; Sepideh  Hajivalizadeh; Bagher  Larijani; Iraj  Nabipour; Afshin  Ostovar; Kourosh  Holakouie-Naieni

doi:10.18502/ijph.v53i10.16724

Mohammad Bidkhori Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahdi Akbarzadeh Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Noushin Fahimfar Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Reihane Seifi Moroudi Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sepideh Hajivalizadeh Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Bagher Larijani Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medi-cal Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Iraj Nabipour The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Afshin Ostovar Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Kourosh Holakouie-Naieni Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v53i10.16724

Keywords: : Trabecular bone score; SOST gene; Sclerostin; Osteoporosis; Postmenopausal women

Abstract

Background: Sclerostin, a protein encoded by the SOST gene, is an important genetic risk factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. This study was conducted on the Iranian postmenopausal women, to investigate the association between this gene and the Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) as a novel index used for assessing osteoporosis.

Methods: The present study, conducted in 2024, was performed on 1071 women aged 60 years and older who participated in the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program. The associations between seven independent Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) within the SOST gene and mean TBS of L1 to L4 were examined using the additive, dominant, and recessive models. Genetic risk scores (GRS) were calculated for each postmenopausal woman based on the coefficient regressions derived from the additive and dominant models. The relationship between the GRS quartiles and TBS was evaluated using a linear regression model.

Results: After adjusting for age and Body Mass Index (BMI), the associations between the rs2023794-C and TBS were significant in the additive (β = 0.03, P= 4.7×10^-5, PFDR= 0.0003) and dominant (β = 0.032, P= 5×10^-5, PFDR= 0.0003) models. The GRS derived from both additive and dominant models were related to TBS (P<0.05). For the additive model GRS, TBS showed an average increase of 0.022 score for the fourth quartile in comparison with the first quartile, adjusted for age, BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and smoking status (P=0.001).

Conclusion: SOST gene is associated with TBS and may have implications for personalized medicine. Targeting sclerostin through SOST could offer a therapeutic approach in managing osteoporosis in high-risk postmenopausal women.