Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026

A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
Vitamin D receptor initiation codon polymorphism, bone density and inflammatory activity of patients with ankylosing
Barbara M Obermayer-Pietsch1, Uwe Lange, Gerlinde Tauber
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology/Nuclear Medicine, Karl Franzens University, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036, Graz, Austria. barbara.obermayer@uni-graz.at
Objectives:
Osteoporosis is a common finding in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and may contribute to spinal deformity and bone pain. Bone metabolism as well as inflammatory processes are influenced by the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR). We investigated initiation codon ( FokI) and 3'UTR ( BsmI) polymorphisms of the VDR for whether there could be an association with bone mineral density (BMD) in relation to bone metabolism or inflammatory activity in patients with AS.
Methods:
In this study, 104 patients with AS (m/w 71/33, mean age 41+/-12 years) were investigated for their lumbar and femoral BMD by DEXA and in part by QCT measurements and compared to 54 healthy controls. Disease activity indices, serum markers of bone metabolism and inflammation were recorded. FokI and BsmI polymorphisms of the VDR were genotyped using genomic DNA from peripheral leukocytes with present or absent restriction sites defined as alleles " f" and " b" or " F" and " B," respectively.
Results:
In male AS patients, FokI genotypes were significantly associated with spinal but not with femoral BMD values ( P=0.01) as independent predictors of low BMD, which was also influenced by BMI, and inflammatory and pain indices. CRP and ESR values were also significantly associated with FokI genotypes. BMD in female patients showed no significant association with either FokI or BsmI genotypes of the VDR.
Conclusion:
This is the first evidence that the VDR gene may be involved in BMD differences, bone metabolism and inflammatory processes in ankylosing spondylitis. A possible interaction of the vitamin D system, cytokines and bone could define new diagnostic and therapeutic implications in ankylosing spondylitis.
Related Concept Videos
Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Connective Tissue Cell Types
Fat cells (adipocytes), smooth muscle cells (myoblasts), and bone cells (osteoblasts) are some connective tissue cell types. Some immune system cells...
Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

![Quantitative [18F]-Naf-PET-MRI Analysis for the Evaluation of Dynamic Bone Turnover in a Patient with Facetogenic Low Back Pain](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F58491.jpg&w=3840&q=50)