Tenofovir-associated bone density loss

Abstract

Clinical observations have revealed a strong correlation between loss of bone density in HIV-infected individuals, particularly in conjunction with the antiretroviral drug tenofovir, a nucleotide analog that inhibits HIV reverse transcriptase. The most compelling correlations have been observed in clinical studies involving young children and adolescents. These observations strongly suggest that bone density is being affected during active bone growth and development, implicating a role for tenofovir in bone loss. Here we discuss the literature and potential mechanisms for how tenofovir-associated bone loss may arise, which likely involves perturbation of cellular DNA synthesis and gene expression. Elucidation of the mechanism(s) involved in tenofovir-mediated bone loss will help in developing adjuvant therapies to reduce tenofovir-associated bone density loss.

Keywords:

• tenofovir
• osteoblast
• osteoclast
• dysfunction
• PMPA
• renal

Introduction

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) represent the backbone of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the clinical management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. NRTIs target HIV reverse transcriptase and prevent the synthesis of viral DNA. NRTIs lack a 3′-hydroxyl group on the deoxyribose and following incorporation of the next incoming deoxynucleotide cannot form the new 5′-3′ phosphodiester bond required to extend the synthesis of the DNA chain. Thus, NRTIs act as chain terminators of HIV DNA synthesis. Due to the development of HIV drug resistance, there has been a continual need for the discovery and development of new drug targets and new anti-HIV drugs.

Tenofovir, also called 9-(R)-{2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl}adenine or PMPA, is a nucleotide analog (Figure 1) and was approved in 2001 for use in treating HIV infection and more recently for chronic hepatitis B infection.¹ The prodrug form is tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) (Figure 1). Tenofovir has improved potency as it is a nucleotide and has an abbreviated intracellular activation pathway to allow a more rapid and complete conversion to the active drug. The prodrug TDF has a labile lipophilic group to facilitate penetration through target cell membranes. Tenofovir is not known to be a substrate, inducer or inhibitor of human cytochrome P450 enzymes in vitro or in vivo. Tenofovir has high potency and an unusually durable response when used in trials of single-agent therapy intensification in highly treatment-experienced individuals.² The active metabolite, tenofovir diphosphate, exhibits a long intracellular half-life in both resting and activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which allows for single daily dosing. The clinical efficacy of TDF has been shown in Phase II (ie, GS-98-902) and III (ie, GS-99-907) clinical trials, with highly treatment-experienced patients.^3,4 The Phase II and III studies were both randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter intensification studies of TDF that confirmed the utility of TDF in which patients added TDF therapy (300 mg once daily) in addition to their existing regimen.⁵

Figure 1 Structures of tenofovir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).

While there has been great success in the use of tenofovir in treating HIV infection, there have been clinical reports of tenofovir-associated side effects. Among those side effects, multiple studies have implicated tenofovir-associated bone loss. This review discusses the literature on tenofovir-associated bone loss and presents several plausible mechanisms that might explain the basis for bone loss.

Tenofovir-associated bone loss

Bone is a dynamic tissue that is formed and maintained by osteoblasts (which form bone) and osteoclasts (which resorb bone). An extensive cell signaling network between osteoblasts and osteoclasts is required for maintaining a balance in the activities of these two cell types in bone remodeling and bone health. Recent studies have indicated that direct signals between bone cells are important for regulating bone remodeling.^6–8 For example, it has been shown that osteoclasts can initiate bone formation via signaling to osteoblasts independent of their ability to resorb bone.^9,10 In patients with autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type II it was demonstrated that the number of osteoclasts but not their activity controls bone formation.¹¹ Conversely, osteoblasts regulate osteoclast differentiation by expressing two factors that are necessary and sufficient for osteoclast formation: M-CSF¹² and RANKL¹³; M-CSF is required for survival and proliferation of early osteoclast precursors.^14–16 Binding of RANKL, produced by osteoblasts, and the RANK receptor on osteoclasts stimulates expression of genes necessary for osteoclast differentiation, cellular fusion and bone resorption. Additionally, osteoblasts express osteoprotegerin, a soluble decoy receptor for RANKL, which inhibits activation of RANK by RANKL. The ratio of RANKL to osteoprotegerin produced by osteoblasts is a major determinant of osteoclast forming activity within the bone microenvironment and allows for close coordination between bone formation and bone resorption under normal physiological conditions.

Perturbations in the function of osteoblasts or osteoclasts can lead to bone loss, clinically presented as osteopenia or osteoporosis. Osteoporosis commonly occurs in women following menopause, where it is called postmenopausal osteoporosis, but can also occur in men or anyone with certain hormonal disorders, other chronic diseases, or due to medications such as glucocorticoids.^17–23 Vitamin D deficiencies can result in bone softening, resulting in osteomalacia – in children called rickets.^24–26 Loss of osteoclast function increases bone density, resulting in osteopetrosis. One example of a human condition involving osteopetrosis is a rare inherited disorder, called Albers–Schonberg disease. In osteopetrosis, osteoclast numbers may be lower, normal, or elevated, however the critical factor in the development of osteopetrosis is the dysfunction of osteoclasts. For example, a reduction of carbonic anhydrase expression in osteoclasts can result in defects in hydrogen ion pumping, which can cause a dysfunction in osteoclast resorption of bone.^27,28 However, osteoblast dysfunction, particularly hyperactivity, can also result in osteopetrosis^29,30 while a decrease in function can contribute to osteoporosis.

HIV infection has been implicated as a risk factor for alteration of bone mineral density in children as well as in adults.^31–34 Imbalances in growth factors and cytokines, as well as the use of HAART could contribute to bone loss by increasing bone resorption. Previous studies have demonstrated adverse effects on bone metabolism by the administration of tenofovir in macaques, resulting primarily in decreased bone density.^35–37 Infection of macaques by simian immunodeficiency virus was also implicated in affecting bone density. Histomorphometric analysis revealed in one of these studies an increase in tibial osteoid seam width, which can result in bone softening (and can develop into osteomalacia).³⁵ The increase in osteoid seam width is likely associated with reduced activity in osteoblasts. Bone density reductions due to tenofovir have also been reported in human adults.³⁸ Since tenofovir has a distinct and unique drug resistance profile, it satisfies the significant need for new non-cross-resistant HAART regimens in salvage therapy, particularly with children and adolescents. In light of this, off-label clinical studies of tenofovir with HIV-infected children and adolescents have been conducted to investigate the efficacy of tenofovir-containing HAART regimens and to investigate whether tenofovir-associated bone loss is greater in children and adolescents than in adults.^39–41 Increased bone resorption could cause a compensatory increase in osteoblast activity, which would be revealed by increased serum alkaline phosphatase levels.⁴² General conclusions drawn from these studies include that tenofovir treatment decreased bone mineral density as well as increased urinary calcium excretion. One limitation of these studies was the relatively small study size (ranging from 18 to 6 children). Another limitation of these studies is that the measurement of bone density is difficult in children and adolescents because of the dynamic yet variable rate of bone growth. Presently, there are different methods that are commonly used to measure bone density: dual-energy X-ray absorbtiometry (DXA), quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and quantitative ultrasound (QUS). Each approach has limitations and comparisons between these methods are difficult as comparative data analysis can be somewhat subjective. A study that analyzed the effect of TDF treatment of a group of 16 HIV-infected children and adolescents over a 1-year period concluded that TDF did not affect bone density when stavudine and protease inhibitor-containing regimens were compared with TDF/lami-vudine/efavirenz.⁴³ Differences in this study compared to that of the previously described studies include that the patients were older, had greater height and weight, and the majority were either in middle or late puberty or postpubertal. The children under study were also required to have long-lasting viral suppression prior to the switch to TDF and were exposed to TDF levels that may have been lower, as fractions of pills were administered. This study design is different to the other studies, which involved relatively younger children that did not have long lasting viral suppression prior to the switch to TDF, which were entire pills (ie, 300 mg).^39–41

Mechanisms of tenofovir-associated bone loss

A significant literature exists on NRTIs that have implicated mitochondrial dysfunction, reviewed in.^44–49 The inhibition of mitochondrial polymerase gamma could occur by competitive inhibition of polymerase gamma and/or the incorporation and subsequent DNA chain termination. The result would be a reduction in mitochondrial DNA synthesis. NRTIs could also indirectly inhibit DNA synthesis by inducing nucleotide pool imbalances, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Both direct and indirect mechanisms would result in the alteration of mitochondrial gene expression, which would cause mitochondrial dysfunction. NRTIs have greater affinity for affecting different tissue types as well as the nature of the mitochondrial-induced dysfunction in these tissue types, depending upon the NRTI. The analysis of NRTI-associated cellular stress has indicated that the mechanisms involved can be quite complex. NRTIs can result in altered gene expression profiles.^50,51 Altered gene expression profiles have been observed in the absence of mitochondrial DNA depletion, suggesting that NRTIs can cause mitochondrial dysfunction and not inhibit mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma.⁵²

The association of tenofovir with mitochondrial dysfunction has been investigated. In general, no mitochondrial dysfunction was observed with tenofovir.^53–56 Other studies have reported a lowering of mitochondrial dysfunction when drug regimens were changed and NRTIs were replaced with tenofovir.^57–59 A recent study in rats found that very high doses (ie, 100 mg/kg/day) of tenofovir reduced mitochondrial DNA and gene expression in kidney cells.⁶⁰ The relevance of this observation given the very high dosing used is unclear. In stark contrast, in an HIV transgenic mouse model tenofovir treatment was found to increase mitochondrial DNA content in kidney cells.⁶¹ Further analysis of mitochondrial DNA obtained from renal proximal tubules microdissected from kidney sections suggested that tenofovir lowered mitochondrial DNA levels in the renal proximal tubules.⁶¹ To date, no studies of mitochondrial dysfunction being associated with tenofovir-mediated bone loss have been reported. Overall, the current literature does not provide strong evidence for mitochondrial dysfunction being a major mechanism for tenfovir-mediated cellular stress, particularly in regards to bone loss.

In vitro studies have previously reported that tenofovir diphosphate is a poor substrate and weak inhibitor of rat DNA polymerase alpha, delta and epsilon.⁵⁵ Combined with the report of tenofovir diphosphate being poorly incorporated into DNA by the human mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma,⁴⁹ data are limited that would support a direct role of tenofovir in bone loss by the inhibition of either nuclear or mitochondrial DNA replication. While data are lacking for tenofovir diphosphate being a good substrate for cellular DNA polymerases, the in vivo data correlating tenofovir therapy with bone loss, particularly in children and adolescents who have very active and ongoing bone growth, implicate a role for tenofovir’s ability to impact cellular DNA synthesis. Such an impact could be either direct or indirect, such as 1) incorporation and DNA chain termination, 2) DNA damage, 3) alteration of deoxynucleotide transport, and/or 4) nucleotide pool imbalances, which would perturb cellular DNA synthesis. The perturbation of cellular (ie, nuclear and/or mitochondrial) DNA synthesis would result in altered gene expression. The alteration of gene expression for genes involved in bone maintenance could explain the clinical observation of bone density loss during tenofovir treatment.

We propose three potential mechanisms for tenofovir-associated bone loss. These include 1) preferential uptake by osteoclasts (altering gene expression and resulting in increased bone resorption), 2) update by osteoblasts (altering gene expression and decreasing bone formation), and 3) uptake by both osteoclasts and osteoblasts (altering gene expression of both cells types and ultimately the balance between bone resorption and bone formation – resulting in bone loss).

Since TDF is a phosphonate, it is possible that this could enhance its uptake into cells (Figure 2A), which would increase the probability of cellular stress. Bisphosphonates (ie, diphosphonates) are drugs used clinically to prevent loss of bone density, particularly in diseases such as osteoporosis, bone metastasis, multiple myeloma, Paget’s disease of bone, and primary hyperparathyroidism. Bisphosphonates target bone and inhibit osteoclast function after their cellular uptake by inducing apoptosis.^62,63 Since tenofovir and TDF are both phosphonates, it is conceivable that they could also have an association with bone and be selectively taken up by osteoclasts by a mechanism similar to that of bisphosphonates, ultimately causing cellular stress. The resulting cellular stress would likely perturb cellular DNA synthesis (ie, nuclear and/or mitochondrial) and gene expression (Figure 2B). For example, the reduction of gene expression for an osteoclast gene that is involved in signaling osteoblast activity could ultimately result in a loss of bone density. It is formally possible that adjuvant treatment of bone density loss could improve the durability of tenofovir-containing HAART. In the case of osteoclast hyperactivity, it is possible that bisphosphonates could reduce bone density loss associated with tenofovir treatment.

Figure 2 The osteoclast as a target for TDF. A) Bone tissue, osteoblasts and osteoclasts. TDF, as a phosphonate, associates with bone tissue. Bone resorption by osteoclasts would result in the preferential uptake of TDF. B) Impact of TDF on osteoclast DNA synthesis and gene expression. Following TDF uptake by osteoclasts, TDF can target the nucleus (1) and/or mitochondria (2), where it may directly or indirectly perturb DNA synthesis by 1) incorporation and DNA chain termination, 2) DNA damage, 3) alteration of deoxynucleotide transport, and/or 4) nucleotide pool imbalances. The impact of TDF on cellular DNA synthesis would result in altered gene expression (3).

Abbreviation: TDF, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

The loss of bone density due to TDF exposure could also be associated with tenofovir-induced renal dysfunction – particularly renal proximal tubule dysfunction.^{42,61,64–72} The failure of renal proximal tubular cells to reabsorb filtered bicarbonate from the urine would result in urinary bicarbonate wasting and subsequent acidemia and a more general dysfunction of the proximal tubular cells – called Fanconi’s syndrome. Commonly observed conditions in Fanconi syndrome include aminoaciduria, glycosuria, tubular proteinuria, and uricosuria. Importantly, the main clinical feature of Fanconi’s syndrome is bone demineralization (osteomalacia or rickets) due to phosphate wasting. Therefore, TDF-associated bone density loss may an outcome of renal dysfunction.

Summary

The distinctive resistance profile, high potency and limited side effects of tenofovir have made it an important component of HAART. The off-label use of tenofovir for treatment of children and adolescents is important for providing alternatives to treatment-experienced patients. Also, tenofovir will likely play an important role in preventing mother-to-child transmission, particularly in the context of the appeal of TDF-containing fixed dose combinations in a single pill (ie, Atripla^® and Truvada^®). A concern in off-label tenofovir use is bone density loss. Current data indicate that tenofovir-mediated bone loss is likely mediated by novel mechanisms not solely related to the known mitochondrial dysfunction associated with NRTIs. Future research will further aid in the elucidation the mechanism(s) involved in tenofovir-mediated bone loss, which would help in developing adjuvant therapies to reduce tenofovir-associated bone density loss.

Acknowledgements

We thank Steve Patterson for stimulating discussions. Supported by NIH grants AR53946 (K.C.M.), DE16093 (R.G.), and GM56615 (L.M.M.). I.F.G. and L.P. were supported by the MinnCResT Program, T32DE07288.

Disclosures

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.