Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a common problem in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF), the etiology of which is multifactorial. In this study, we provide the first evidence that ivacaftor improves BMD in CF patients carrying the p.Gly551Asp mutation. Consistently, in vitro experiments with TNF-α-stimulated primary F508del-CFTR osteoblasts demonstrated that correction of p.Phe508del-CFTR markedly decreased RANKL protein production, a major factor of bone resorption. These clinical and fundamental observations suggest that rescue of mutated CFTR protein improves bone remodeling and support the link between CFTR and bone cell physiology. These findings represent a step forward in the development of potential new therapies for CF-related bone disease.
Keywords: Bone density; CFTR corrector; Cystic fibrosis; RANKL.
Copyright © 2016 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.