부산대학교 도서관

Autosomal-recessive osteopetrosis is a severe genetic disease caused by osteoclast failure. Approximately 50% of the patients harbor mutations of the ATP6igene, encoding for the osteoclast-specific a3 subunit of V-ATPase. We found inactivating ATP6imutations in four patients, and three of these were novel. Patients shared macrocephaly, growth retardation and optic nerve alteration, osteosclerotic and endobone patterns, and high alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone levels. Bone biopsies revealed primary spongiosa lined with active osteoblasts and high numbers of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive, a3 subunit-negative, morphologically unremarkable osteoclasts, some of which located in shallow Howship lacunae. Scarce hematopoietic cells and abundant fibrous tissue containing TRAP-positive putative osteoclast precursors were noted. In vitroosteoclasts were a3-negative, morphologically normal, with prominent clear zones and actin rings, and TRAP activity more elevated than in control patients. Podosomes, αVβ3 receptor, c-Src, and PYK2 were unremarkable. Consistent with the finding in the bone biopsies, these cells excavated pits faintly stained with toluidine blue, indicating inefficient bone resorption. Bone marrow transplantation was successful in all patients, and posttransplant osteoclasts showed rescue of a3 subunit immunoreactivity.