Osteoporosis and gene polymorphism

Osteoporosis is a multifactorial disease for which genetic and environmental factors are determinants. We have been conducting a candidate-gene approach in which polymorphisms of many bone metabolism related genes have been examined in the association study with bone mineral density and fracture incidence. However, the contribution of each gene is small and the major genetic determinants of BMD have not elucidated. Recently, a genome-wide systematic approach has been conducted to find the responsible genes using a genome-wide list of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). So far, several genes with higher statistical power have been screened out with this approach. The accumulating information of genome science will help understand the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and find the useful ways for the prevention and the treatment of this disease.