Association between polymorphisms in sclerostin, dickkopfs and secreted frizzled-related protein genes and bone mineral density in postmenopausal korean women

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in sclerostin (SOST), dickkopf (DKK), secreted frizzled-related protein (sFRP) genes and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal Korean women. Methods: The SOST, Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1), sFRP1,sFRP2,sFRP3, sFRP4, sFRP5, DKK1, DKK2 and DKK3 polymorphisms were analyzed in 399 postmenopausal Korean women. Serum levels of bone turnover markers were measured, and BMDs at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were also examined. Results: No significant differences in adjusted BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were noted according to any single and combined polymorphisms measured in SOST, DKKs and sFRPs. However, osteoporosis at the femoral neck was 2.35 times more frequently observed in the AA genotype of the sFRP4 c.958C>A polymorphism compared to the non-AA genotype (95% CI 1.09-5.08, p = 0.03). Also, the CC genotype of the sFRP3 c.970C>G polymorphism had a higher rate of osteoporosis at the femoral neck compared to the GC genotype (OR 8.47, 95% CI 1.37-52.63, p = 0.049). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the sFRP3 c.970C>G and sFRP4 c.958C>A polymorphisms may be genetic factors associated with the prevalence of osteoporosis at the femoral neck in postmenopausal Korean women.