Additive effects of eldecalcitol in poorly responding long-term bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis

Farnesyl diphosphate synthase promotes cell proliferation by regulating gene expression and alternative splicing profiles in HeLa cells

Farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FDPS), an essential enzyme involved in the mevalonate pathway, is implicated in various diseases, including multiple types of cancer. As an RNA-binding protein (RBP), FDPS is also involved in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. However, to the best of our knowledge, transcriptome-wide targets of FDPS still remain unknown. In the present study, FDPS expression patterns in pan-cancer were analyzed. In addition, it was investigated how FDPS overexpression (FDPS-OE) regulates the transcriptome in HeLa cells. FDPS-OE increased the proliferation rate in HeLa cells by MTT assay. Using transcriptome-wide high throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, it was found that FDPS upregulated the expression levels of genes enriched in cell proliferation and extracellular matrix organization, including the laminin subunit γ2, interferon-induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeats 2 and matrix metallopeptidase 19 genes. According to alternative splicing (AS) analysis, FDPS modulated the splicing patterns of the bone morphogenic protein 1, semaphorin 4D, annexin A2 and sirtuin 2 genes, which are enriched in the cell cycle and DNA repair, and are related to cell proliferation. To corroborate the FDPS-regulated transcriptome findings, FDPS was overexpressed in human osteosarcoma cells. Differentially expressed genes and regulated AS genes in the cells were both validated by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The results suggested that, as an emerging RBP, FDPS may serve an important role in transcriptome profiles by altering gene expression and regulating AS. FDPS also affected the cell proliferation rate. These findings broaden the understanding of the molecular functions of FDPS, and the potential of FDPS as a target in therapy should be investigated.

An Open-Label, Randomized Pharmacokinetic Study of 2 Formulations of Eldecalcitol Capsules Following Single Oral Administration in Healthy Chinese Volunteers Under Fasting and Fed Conditions

Eldecalcitol is an active vitamin D₃ derivative that is used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the bioequivalence and safety of 2 formulations of eldecalcitol capsule (0.75 μg) in healthy Chinese male and female volunteers, as well as to investigate the food effect on the pharmacokinetics of this drug. An open label, randomized, 3-period, 3-sequence, reference replicated crossover clinical study was performed in 27 healthy Chinese volunteers under fasting conditions, while a 2-way crossover study was carried out in 28 healthy Chinese volunteers under fed conditions. Volunteers were administered a single oral dose of 0.75 μg eldecalcitol after fasting overnight. Blood samples were collected at scheduled time points from 0 to 168 hours after administration of eldecalcitol. The 90%CIs of the test/reference geometric mean ratio (area under the plasma concentration-time curve and maximum plasma concentration) of eldecalcitol after a single-dose administration were within the acceptance criteria based on the average bioequivalence method. The time to maximum concentration of the test and reference formulations were elevated by ≈2.3-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively, after a high-fat meal. Only mild and transient adverse events were reported in this study, and no severe adverse events occurred. These results indicated that the 2 formulations of eldecalcitol were bioequivalent under both fasting and fed conditions. Food intake prolonged the oral absorption of eldecalcitol but did not significantly influence systemic exposure.

The therapeutic effect to eldecalcitol + bisphosphonate is superior to bisphosphonate alone in the treatment of osteoporosis: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease. Bisphosphonate (BP) and eldecalcitol (ELD) are two clinical first-line drugs for osteoporosis patients. However, the effect of ELD + BP vs. BP alone on osteoporosis treatment is still unclear. The present meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the different therapeutic effect of BP + ELD vs. BP alone in osteoporosis treatment.

METHODS

Eligible documents that selected from online databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were included in this study (updated to March 3, 2020). The quality assessment of the included studies was based on the guidelines of Cochrane. Meta-analysis was performed according to criteria such as intervention plan and outcome. The indicators including bone mineral density (BMD) in all enrolled studies were included in the current analysis. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models. Then, heterogeneity analysis was performed based on Cochran's Q test and I2 statistics.

RESULTS

A total of 4 studies (456 cases) with high quality were enrolled in this study. The effect of ELD + BP was superior to BP alone based on indicators including femoral neck BMD (FN-BMD) and total hip BMD (TH-BMD) in patients with followed up ≤ 6 months. Moreover, the effect of ELD + BP was superior to BP alone based on lumbar spine BMD (LS-BMD) in patients with 12 months followed up.

CONCLUSION

Therapeutic effect of ELD + BP was superior to BP alone in osteoporotic patients based on the influence of BMD.