Bisphosphonates cause osteonecrosis of the jaw-like disease in mice

Am J Pathol. 2010 Jul;177(1):280-90. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.090592. Epub 2010 May 14.

Abstract

Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BONJ) is a morbid bone disease linked to long-term bisphosphonate use. Despite its broad health impact, mechanistic study is lacking. In this study, we have established a mouse model of BONJ-like disease based on the equivalent clinical regimen in myeloma patients, a group associated with high risk of BONJ. We demonstrate that the murine BONJ-like disease recapitulates major clinical and radiographical manifestations of the human disease, including characteristic features of osseous sclerosis, sequestra, avascular, and radiopaque alveolar bone in the jaw that persists beyond a normal course of wound healing following tooth extraction. We find that long-term administration of bisphosphonates results in an increase in the size and number of osteoclasts and the formation of giant osteoclast-like cells within the alveolar bone. We show that the development of necrotic bone and impaired soft tissue healing in our mouse model is dependent on long-term use of high-dose bisphosphonates, immunosuppressive and chemotherapy drugs, as well as mechanical trauma. Most importantly, we demonstrate that bisphosphonate is the major cause of BONJ-like disease in mice, mediated in part by its ability to suppress osseous angiogenesis and bone remodeling. The availability of this novel mouse model of BONJ-like disease will help elucidate the pathophysiology of BONJ and ultimately develop novel approaches for prevention and treatment of human BONJ.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / adverse effects*
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / pharmacology
  • Bone Remodeling / drug effects
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Diphosphonates / adverse effects*
  • Diphosphonates / pharmacology
  • Docetaxel
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / adverse effects
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Jaw Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Jaw Diseases / pathology
  • Mandible / drug effects
  • Mandible / metabolism
  • Mandible / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects
  • Osteocytes / drug effects
  • Osteocytes / metabolism
  • Osteonecrosis / chemically induced*
  • Osteonecrosis / pathology
  • Taxoids / pharmacology
  • Zoledronic Acid

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Diphosphonates
  • Imidazoles
  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel
  • Zoledronic Acid
  • Dexamethasone