The Genetic Architecture of High Bone Mass

Abstract

The phenotypic trait of high bone mass (HBM) is an excellent example of the nexus between common and rare disease genetics. HBM may arise from carriage of many ‘high bone mineral density [BMD]’-associated alleles, and certainly the genetic architecture of individuals with HBM is enriched with high BMD variants identified through genome-wide association studies of BMD. HBM may also arise as a monogenic skeletal disorder, due to abnormalities in bone formation, bone resorption, and/or bone turnover. Individuals with monogenic disorders of HBM usually, though not invariably, have other skeletal abnormalities (such as mandible enlargement) and thus are best regarded as having a skeletal dysplasia rather than just isolated high BMD. A binary etiological division of HBM into polygenic vs. monogenic, however, would be excessively simplistic: the phenotype of individuals carrying rare variants of large effect can still be modified by their common variant polygenic background, and by the environment. HBM disorders—whether predominantly polygenic or monogenic in origin—are not only interesting clinically and genetically: they provide insights into bone processes that can be exploited therapeutically, with benefits both for individuals with these rare bone disorders and importantly for the many people affected by the commonest bone disease worldwide—i.e., osteoporosis. In this review we detail the genetic architecture of HBM; we provide a conceptual framework for considering HBM in the clinical context; and we discuss monogenic and polygenic causes of HBM with particular emphasis on anabolic causes of HBM.

Introduction

Most people are first introduced to genetics through the gardening career of Gregor Mendel and his observations regarding various features of the pea plant (flower color, pod shape, etc.). Mendel’s studies led him to conclude that individual characteristics (i.e., phenotypes) were determined by discrete units of information (i.e., genes) that came in pairs (i.e., alleles), with one of each pair inherited by each offspring randomly and independently of the genes determining other characteristics (1). He also concluded that at any particular locus one allele would be dominant and the other recessive.

Mendel’s laws certainly explained the phenotypes observed in his multigenerational plant breeding experiments; and they provided an explanation for the inheritance of autosomal monogenic disorders (2). However, they appeared not to explain the inheritance of many traits that exhibit continuous distribution in the population (e.g., height, weight). Initial attempts at reconciliation proposed that continuously distributed phenotypes might still be determined by a single locus but with a ‘blending’ of each parent’s characteristics rather than a pure dominant/recessive model of inheritance (e.g., a tall mother and a short father would have children of average height); but ultimately this question was resolved by the demonstration that continuously distributed (or quantitative) traits arise from the effect of multiple genetic loci, each of which individually exhibits Mendelian inheritance (3), which combine, both additively and interactively, and within a given environment, to produce the final phenotype.

These concepts are not just of historical interest but highly relevant when considering the genetic architecture of high bone mass (HBM)—or indeed any other heritable disease.

What Is Genetic Architecture?

To quote Gratten et al., “genetic architecture refers to the number of genomic loci contributing to risk, the distribution of their allelic frequencies and effect sizes, and the interactions of alleles in and between genes, all of which contribute to the relationship between genotype and phenotype. Understanding genetic architecture is the foundation on which progress in dissecting etiology is built because it dictates which study designs for identifying risk variants are likely to be most successful.” (4) It is hard to improve upon this elegant definition and its clear consequences regarding gene mapping strategies [for an in-depth discussion of this topic, the reader is referred to an excellent recent review (5)].

In considering the genetic architecture of HBM specifically, the simplest question that can be asked is whether HBM is monogenic (due to carriage of a rare variant of large phenotypic effect) or polygenic (arising from the cumulative effect of multiple variants, each individually of small effect). However, even answering this apparently simple question is not straight-forward, as these are not necessarily mutually exclusive options, whether considering either the HBM population as a whole or a particular affected individual.

Monogenic diseases, whether dominant or recessive, autosomal or X-linked, are due to rare highly penetrant alleles affecting a single gene. Monogenic diseases generally follow classical Mendelian inheritance such that the presence or absence of disease is mathematically predictable, with some leeway for variable penetrance and expressivity from genetic and/or environmental modifiers (6). Although individually rare, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that monogenic disease affect 1% of the worldwide population (7); and there are many skeletal dysplasias that display classic Mendelian inheritance, with either high (e.g. osteopetroses) or low (e.g. osteogenesis imperfecta) bone mineral density (BMD) (8).

However, this does not mean that all heritable dichotomous disease states are monogenic. Many common diseases (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, breast cancer) are defined as present or absent according to particular characteristics, whereas other common diseases (e.g., hypertension, type 2 diabetes) are defined using a threshold value along a continuously distributed phenotype (i.e., blood pressure and glycemia). It is perhaps easier to understand how quantitative disease states may be polygenic in inheritance (3), compared with qualitative (i.e., dichotomous) common disease states. However, qualitative diseases may also be polygenic: it is the underlying risk of disease that is quantitative, with disease manifest once a particular genetic threshold is reached (3, 9). Indeed, a priori even diseases that might appear monogenic are more likely to be polygenic (10). The validity of this concept has been demonstrated comprehensively by the enormous success of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which have identified thousands of variants associated with a host of common quantitative and qualitative diseases as diverse as type 1 diabetes to schizophrenia to prostate cancer (11). The polygenic common variant ‘background’ can also modify the phenotype of persons carrying rare highly penetrant monogenic variants—such as BRCA1 mutations in breast cancer or carriage of HLA-B27 in ankylosing spondylitis (12–14). Here, it is worth highlighting that extreme HBM populations are enriched with common variant ‘high BMD’ alleles (discussed further later in this article) (15).

In considering the translational applications of GWAS, it would be fair to say that at least initially the clinical utility of polygenic (or genomic) risk scores (PRS) calculated using genome-wide associated SNPs was underwhelming—certainly in bone disease. At the time of publication of the second GEnetic Factors in Osteoporosis Study [GEFOS-2], a study involving tens of thousands of cases and controls, the PRS derived from variants associated with femoral neck BMD at genome-wide significance (i.e., p <5 × 10⁻⁸) performed less well in predicting BMD than age and weight alone (area under receiver-operator characteristics curve: 0.59 vs. 0.75) (16). This was not really surprising: despite the large sample size, the identified variants still explained only a small proportion (<6%) of overall BMD heritability (16). Over time, ever larger GWAS have been performed (17, 18); and certainly increasing GWAS population size strongly correlates (on a log scale) with the number of SNPs identified at genome-wide significance to be associated with disease (11), capturing a greater proportion of heritability, and improving PRS utility. Additionally, adopting a less stringent threshold for SNP inclusion in PRS also increases the proportion of genetic variance captured—at the cost of more noise and inclusion of more false-positive results. There is no fixed formula for the sweet spot between sensitivity and specificity for PRS (i.e., maximizing AUCs in ROC analyses or similar statistic). It is disease-specific (19); and for maximal clinical utility the PRS must also be interpreted in the context of other disease-specific factors including disease heritability, prevalence, and prior probability (19–23). [For further discussion on the calculation and clinical utility of PRS, the reader is referred to two recent review articles (19, 23)]. However, despite these caveats, PRS have reached the point whereby, to quote Khera et al., “for a number of common diseases, polygenic risk scores can now identify a substantially larger fraction of the population than is found by rare monogenic mutations, at comparable or greater disease risk” (24). For example, at a population level, the proportion of individuals who carry a sufficient burden of common variants to place them at three-fold risk of coronary artery disease is twenty-fold that of individuals carrying rare highly penetrant LDL-R mutations of equivalent risk (24). Moreover, common variants can be easily and cheaply genotyped, without needing whole population whole-genome sequencing, noting that the choice of technology in this area is sometimes a political rather than a strictly scientific decision.

Use of BMD to Define Dichotomous Disease States of Osteoporosis and High Bone Mass

Defining a disease state by use of a particular threshold value within the normal population distribution of a quantitative trait is a concept extremely familiar to the bone community. The most commonly employed measure of bone strength is BMD, usually assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The result is then compared against an age, ethnicity and sex-specific reference population, allowing calculation of T- and Z-scores (the number of standard deviations (SDs) by which the result differs from the mean BMD of a young adult or age-matched population, respectively). Individuals with lower BMD are at higher risk of fracture, particularly low trauma fractures (25). Reflecting this risk, in 1999 the WHO used DXA BMD to define osteoporosis and osteopenia (for osteoporosis, a T-score of ≤−2.5; for osteopenia, a T-score between −1 and −2.5) (26). These threshold definitions do not account for other major risk factors for fracture—such as age and prior fragility fracture, both of which independently increase future fracture risk (27)—and use of BMD in isolation to define the real clinical issue (i.e., bone fragility and fracture risk) can lead to apparent paradoxes, e.g., a woman with osteopenia (according to BMD) and a previous low trauma fracture is at higher risk of a fracture than a women with BMD-defined osteoporosis who has not yet fractured (28). Nevertheless, such thresholds are useful in identifying a high-risk group of clinical relevance, in whom intervention might be most clinically- and cost-effective. Further, fracture risk calculators [e.g., FRAX, Garven (29)] have been developed to account for key clinical risk factors, as well as BMD, to circumvent the limitations of BMD alone.

At the other end of the normal distribution for BMD are individuals with HBM. It is tempting to regard these individuals simply as phenotypic outliers, with their BMD results of little serious clinical consequences unless such individuals unexpectedly find themselves in deep water (non-metaphorically). However, studying individuals with HBM is of relevance both for their own sake and for the community more broadly. Firstly, HBM may indicate an underlying and hitherto-unsuspected skeletal dysplasia with specific clinical needs (e.g., monitoring of cranial nerve function, therapeutic choices, and genetic counseling) (30). Second, these individuals provide novel insights into the regulation of bone mass: such discoveries may inform not only therapeutic approaches to their own HBM condition but also for the opposite, and more prevalent, bone phenotype of osteoporosis. In considering this last point, an important caveat applies. While low BMD is closely related to increased fracture risk (25), the converse is not necessarily true (31). For example, individuals with high BMD due to disorders of bone resorption (e.g., osteopetroses) or disturbed bone turnover (e.g., Paget’s disease), can manifest high fracture rates.

How High Is High Bone Density?

Epidemiological studies of high BMD are few and definition thresholds are variable (32, 33). Indeed, the absence of an upper limit to define ‘normal’ BMD risks those with a pathological cause for high BMD being missed and labeled as “normal.” In 2005, Michael Whyte proposed a high BMD definition of a Z-score >+2.5, to alert clinicians to this issue (30). However, until more recently publications around high BMD were still the purview of case reports and small case series.

To address this question, we conducted the first systematic analysis of patients undergoing routine clinical DXA scanning, encompassing 335,115 DXA scans across 15 UK centers. We first used a screening threshold T or Z-score ≥+4 at any lumbar/hip site to identify those with extreme high BMD, in whom we investigated the potential underlying causes for a high BMD, trying to identify within this heterogeneous population with high BMD, a sub-group with unexplained generalized HBM (identified using a Z-score threshold ≥+3.2) (discussed in detail later) (34). Overall, within this UK population, scanned by DXA over a retrospective 20 year period for a wide variety of more-or-less clinically justifiable indications, we found the prevalence a T or Z-score ≥+4 to be 0.5%, and within that of unexplained generalized HBM with Z-score ≥+3.2 to be 0.18% (34). Interestingly, reflecting on the mathematics of a normal distribution, four standard deviations (SDs) would be expected to identify just 0.003% of a population, while 3.2 SDs equates to 0.069% (35). Taken together, it seems BMD might have a marginally bimodal distribution at the upper tail of its distribution.

While this study was the first to assess the prevalence of high BMD within the general population, the—albeit large—population composed of individuals referred for DXA scanning for clinical reasons, rather than selected to represent the general population. Thus, selection bias is possible. However, as most individuals are referred for DXA due to a pre-test suspicion of low BMD and/or osteoporosis (e.g., a history of steroid use), if anything the true prevalence of high BMD may have been underestimated to date. Thus, this study provides a minimal prevalence for this condition.

Detecting High BMD in Clinical Practice

Incidental high BMD results in clinical practice are relatively common (34), and we have previously published an approach to guide their assessment and investigation (36). The commonest causes for a high BMD are artefactual, with osteoarthritic degeneration explaining half of all high BMD measurements (34) (see Table 1 for list of artefacts). Importantly, identifying the presence of artefact in someone with apparently high BMD on DXA does not mean fracture risk is necessarily low; and artefact is important to recognize as it may mask osteoporosis. For example, an osteoporotic vertebral fracture with vertebral collapse will reduce measured bone area while maintaining bone mineral content, and thus increase calculated BMD.

Table 1.

Causes of a high BMD measurement on a DXA scan.

Artefactual causes of raised BMD—no true increase in bone mass			Genetic Contribution		Refs.
			Monogenic	Polygenic
Osteoarthritis			a	Yes	(34, 37)
DISH: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis			Yes	Yes	(38–41)
Ankylosing spondylitis				Yesb	(42, 43)
Vertebral fractures			Yesb	Yes	(17, 34)
Vascular calcification			Yes	Yes	(44–48)
Thalassemia major			Yes		(49, 50)
Gaucher’s disease (splenomegaly overlies the lumbar spine DXA field)			Yes		(34, 51)
Abdominal abscesses					(52)
Gallstones					(53, 54)
Renal calculi			Yes		(54, 55)
Gluteal silicon implants					(56)
Intestinal barium
Surgical metalwork					(34)
Laminectomy					(57)
Vertebroplasty & kyphoplasty
Acquired causes of true increased bone mass and/or density
Localised	Tumors	Primary malignanciese.g. osteoblastoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, carcoinoid, hemangioma, plasmocytoma, Hodgkin’s diseaseSecondary osteosclerotic metastasese.g. prostate, breast, gastric, colonic, cervical carcinoma	Yes	Yes	(58)
	Chronic infective osteomyelitis
	SAPHO (Synovitis Acne Pustulosis Hyperostosis and Osteitis) syndrome			Yes	(59–61)
	CKD-MBD (Chronic Kidney Disease-Metabolic Bone Disorder)c		Yes	Yes	(62–64)
	Paget’s disease of Bone (PDB)		Yes	Yes	(34, 65, 66)
	Early onset Paget’s like syndromes		Yes		(67)
	X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH)		Yes		(68)
	Osteogenesis imperfecta associated with mutations affecting the carboxy-terminal-propeptide cleavage site of the type 1 procollagen chain		Yes		(69)
	Gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia		Yes		(70, 71)
Generalized	Fluorosis				(72–74),
	Acromegaly		Yes	Yes	(75, 76)
	Hepatitis C-associated osteosclerosis				(77–79),
	Myelofibrosis		Yes	Yes	(80–82),
	Mastocytosis		Yes		(83–85),
	Oestrogen replacement implants				(86)

^aWhile there are no forms of monogenic OA, there are many monogenic skeletal dysplasias with degenerative joint disease—e.g. spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda, achondroplasias.

^bvertebral fractures occur in osteogenesis imperfecta.

^cCKD-MBD increases in BMD can also be generalized.

Interestingly, many artefactual causes of high BMD are themselves heritable. The most common example is spinal osteoarthritis with osteophytosis (Table 1). The heritability of osteoarthritis is approximately 50%, and two large GWAS published in the last two years have identified association with 96 loci (37, 87). As another example, ankylosing spondylitis [AS] is highly (>90%) heritable (88), and associated with over 100 loci, in addition to HLA-B27 (42). AS artefactually elevates BMD through syndesmophyte formation at vertebral margins, anterior longitudinal ligament ossification, and scoliosis (43). It is also associated with increased fracture risk (89), which may be due to the rigidity of the axial skeleton, the presence of inflammation, or a combination of both. A further example is diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), most commonly seen in older men and characterized by widespread spinal calcification (38), which is also heritable (39), though as yet no causative variants have been published (90). The relationship between DISH and abnormal phosphate handling, may also carry implications for bone mineralization, bone strength, and fracture risk, though this has not been formally assessed. The closely related disease ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is also heritable (91), with both common and rare susceptibility variants identified (92, 93)—though as this condition most commonly affects the cervical spine, a site not routinely screened by DXA, OPLL is less likely to cause clinical conundrum as an artefactual cause of high BMD in daily practice.

Calcification of structures anterior to the spine but within the DXA field can artefactually elevate BMD measurements (Table 1). Although vascular calcification of the abdominal aorta is common, reported in 43% of patients having lumbar DXA assessment (mean age 68 years), it is surprising how little evidence there is regarding the effect of this on lumbar spine BMD measures (94–97). The relationship between vascular calcification and low BMD is of particular interest (98), most evident (though not exclusively) in the chronic kidney disease population. Abdominal aortic calcification is associated with lower BMD and vertebral fractures (99); and the extent to which genetic pleiotropy underpins vascular calcification [itself heritable (44)] and osteoporosis is the source of active investigation. There are also monogenic forms of vascular calcification (for example, pathogenic variants in ABCC8 causing pseudoxanthoma elasticum (MIM264800) [45–47)].

Beyond artefact, there are a number of other conditions, usually acquired through life, that cause true increases in bone mass and density, which may be localized or generalized.

Localized Increases in BMD

From a clinical perspective, the most important question when faced with a localized increase in BMD is whether this might represent a tumor. Tumors causing local increases in BMD may be benign or malignant, primary or secondary (Table 1); in this context special mention must be made of breast and prostate cancer, both of which are associated with osteosclerotic bony metastases.

Paget’s disease of the bone (PDB) explains 1.4% of incidental high BMD results (34)—though this figure may fall given the declining population prevalence of PDB (current UK age-adjusted prevalence of 2.5% and 1.6% for men and women respectively) (100). Excessive and disorganized woven and lamellar bone expands bone size and raises density, causing focal increases in BMD but also increasing deformity and risk of fracture. PDB commonly affects the lumbar spine and hips [after the pelvis, the commonest sites of involvement are lower lumbar vertebrae (101)] and may be monostotic (e.g., affecting an isolated vertebra) or polyostotic. PDB is often asymptomatic and may be present for years before diagnosis. PDB also displays both monogenic and polygenic inheritance. Mutations in SQSTM1 (p62) account for 40% of familial and 10% of sporadic PDB (MIM167250) (65); and other monogenic forms of PDB include the more severe and/or early onset PDB caused by mutations in ZNF687, FKBP5, and TNFRSF11A (which codes for RANK). Common variants in loci harboring the genes CSF1, OPTN, TM7SF4, and RIN3 have also been implicated (65). It is thought that environmental triggers interact with this genetic architecture to predispose to disease, with one hypothesized environmental trigger being zoonotic infections (102).

In additional to classical PDB, a number of rarer Paget’s-like syndromes have been described with onset early in life that can also cause localized increases in measured BMD. These include expansile skeletal hyperphosphatasia, familial expansile osteolysis (FEO) (MIM174810), Juvenile Paget’s disease (MIM239000), early-onset familial Paget’s disease (MIM602080), and panostotic expansile bone disease (67). Children present with deafness, dental disorders and on occasion, active focal bone lesions; and as in PDB alkaline phosphatase levels tend to be raised. These conditions are due to genetic mutations in the RANK-NFkappaB signaling pathway [comprehensively reviewed in (103)].

Mutations affecting the carboxy-terminal-propeptide cleavage site of the type 1 procollagen chain (COL1A1) cause an unusual form of osteogenesis imperfecta in which individuals manifest marked bone fragility while having high BMD, due to hyperosteoidosis and hypermineralization. Patchy sclerotic lesions are often evident in the spine and elsewhere; in particular, these individuals develop unusual fibro-osseous lesions in the jaw (“cementoma”) (69). There is a clinical overlap of this condition with gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia (70), which features also include bone fragility, irregular sclerotic BMD, and fibro-osseus lesions in the skull and jaw. Gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia is associated with mutations in ANO5 (71), a gene not known to be involved in collagen production or processing; and the overlap in phenotype between these conditions is not fully understood. However, recent studies have suggested that ANO5 may be involved in osteoclast regulation (104).

SAPHO syndrome (Synovitis, Acne, Pustulosis, Hyperostosis and Osteitis) is a rare and poorly understood condition, in which about half the cases manifest spinal involvement including patchy osteosclerosis, hyperostosis, and para-vertebral ossification (59, 60). Clustering within families is reported and a genetic etiology (including an HLA contribution) has been suggested (61).

Chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD, previously referred to as renal osteodystrophy) causes osteomalacia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and fracture. Radiological features of CKD-MBD include bony sclerosis, particularly of the vertebral body endplates, leading to a ‘rugger-jersey’ spine appearance (an appearance distinctive for hyperparathyroidism); or it can be more diffuse (62–64). CKD-MBD is associated with markedly increased fracture risk (64).

Generalized High BMD

A number of causes of generalized high BMD may be acquired through life (Table 1). For example, fluoride causes diffuse axial osteosclerosis with ligamentous calcification, periostitis and vertebral osteophytosis, and has been associated with excessive tea and toothpaste consumption (72–74). The increase in BMD led to fluoride being historically trialed as an osteoporosis therapy—but it resulted in a higher fracture risk, emphasizing that high BMD per se does not necessarily equate to stronger bones (105, 106). Other rare acquired causes of generalized high BMD are listed in Table 1.

However, rarer still, but fascinating are the monogenic causes of generalized high bone density, known as high bone mass (HBM) syndromes; these we discuss next.

Monogenic Causes of Generalized High BMD

Several rare genetic disorders with skeletal effects, collectively termed osteopetroses and sclerosing bone dysplasias, are associated with generalized increased BMD. The most recent (10^th) edition of the Nosology and Classification of Genetic Skeletal Disorders (2019 revision) lists 462 genetic disorders of the skeleton among which are 45 conditions characterized by osteosclerosis or osteopetrosis, with the underlying gene(s) identified in 40 conditions at the time of going to press (8). As suggested previously (36), and per a recent review paper of de Ridder et al. (107), an intuitive biological separation can be made into disorders in which bone formation is enhanced, those in which bone resorption is depressed, and those with a disturbed balance between bone formation and resorption. Importantly, the associated changes in bone structure and quantity in the various sclerosing bone disorders can have quite different—indeed, completely opposite—effects on fracture risk (8).

It is not our intention to discuss all 45 osteosclerotic and osteopetrotic conditions listed in the current edition of the Nosology (8). Rather, we will focus on cases illustrative of the differences between types of monogenic high BMD, with a particular focus on anabolic HBM.

Genetic Causes of Increased Bone Formation and High BMD

A common feature of anabolic HBM is activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, with increased signaling through this pathway underlying the phenotype of sclerosteosis, van Buchem’s disease, LRP4 HBM, LRP5 HBM, and LRP6 HBM (all discussed below). For a detailed discussion of Wnt signaling in bone, the reader is referred to the excellent review of Baron and Kneissel (108). A brief—and, acknowledged, simplistic—description of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is provided here. Wnt ligands bind to the dual receptor complex comprising Frizzled and LRP5 or LPR6 [LRP5/6], resulting in β-catenin escaping phosphorylation by being released from a multiprotein β-catenin “destruction complex”, leading to β-catenin accumulation in the cytoplasm and ultimately translocation to the nucleus to activate target genes. In the absence of Wnt binding, β-catenin is phosphorylated by GSK-3β (a component of the “destruction complex”) leading to its degradation and, consequently, loss of downstream signaling. Sclerostin inhibits Wnt signaling, by binding to LRP5/6 and preventing LRP5/6 from forming the dual receptor complex with Frizzled. LRP4 anchors sclerostin, enhancing sclerostin’s interaction with LRP5/6, thus facilitating sclerostin’s inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling (108, 109).

Several human diseases characterized by HBM are associated with mutations of components of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (see Figure 1 and text below). As a corollary, mutations of other components of this pathway may also cause HBM, with several such examples evident from mouse genetic studies (108). Thus, sequencing efforts in human populations may lead to the identification of other anabolic HBM conditions in humans.

Figure 1.

Schematic diagram of reported mutations affecting osteoblastic Wnt signaling. (1) LRP4 mutations coding for the 3^rd β-propellor impair sclerostin binding; (2) LRP5 and LRP6 mutations coding for the 1^st β-propellor impair sclerostin binding; (3) SOST mutations inhibit sclerostin production by osteocytes. Reductions in the inhibitory effects of sclerostin allows LRP5/6 to interact with Wnt and its co-receptor Frizzled, which prevents phosphorylation of β-catenin allowing it to accumulate in the cytoplasm of the osteoblast. Translocation of β-catenin to the nucleus activates transcription of target genes. This activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling increases osteoblastic bone formation. The intracellular consequences of LRP4-sclerostin binding are less well characterized; however, reductions in LRP4-sclerostin binding have a similar effect to increase osteoblastic bone formation. LDLR, low-density-lipoprotein receptor. LRP, LDLR related proteins; PPPSP, Proline, Proline, Proline, Serine, Proline; EGF, epidermal growth factor; NPxY, Aspartate, Proline, any amino acid, Tyrosine; YWTD, Tyrosine, Tryptophan, Threonine, Aspartate.

Sclerosteosis and van Buchem’s Disease

Sclerosteosis (MIM269500) and van Buchem’s disease (MIM239100) are rare, clinically similar conditions of excessive bone growth. Loss-of-function SOST mutations cause sclerosteosis, generally thought the more severe of the two disorders; in contrast, a 52-kb intronic deletion downstream of SOST, thought to disrupt post-transcriptional sclerostin processing, results in the milder phenotype of van Buchem’s disease (110, 111). In both disorders, reduced osteocytic production of sclerostin permits activation of osteoblastic Wnt signaling, leading to enhanced bone formation, increased bone strength, and resistance to fracture (110, 112) (Table 2). Understanding the molecular biology of sclerosteosis and van Buchem’s disease has led to the development of monoclonal antibodies against sclerostin, which act to suppress the inhibitory action of sclerostin on Wnt signaling, allowing gains in bone formation (147, 148). Thus, anti-sclerostin antibodies represent a new class of anti-osteoporosis therapy; and recently the first-in-class agent (romosozumab) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicine Agency (discussed further below).

Table 2.

Inherited HBM conditions due to enhanced bone formation: gene defects, function, and clinical characteristics.

Condition	MIM	Inheritance	Gene	Mutation	Protein	Function	Clinical Features	Ref
Increased bone formation
Sclerosteosis	269500	AR	SOST	Loss of function	Sclerostin	Osteoblast Wnt signaling inhibitor	Cutaneous digital syndactyly excessive height. Skull/mandible thickening, toria, CN palsies (incl. neonatal),. Headaches, raised ICP, coning. Back/bone pain. Fracture resistance	(110, 113–115)
Van Buchem’s Diseaseb	239100	AR	SOSTc	Reduced function	Sclerostin	Osteoblast Wnt signaling inhibitor	No syndactyly, no excess height. Skull/mandible thickening, toria, CN palsies. Headaches, back/bone pain. Fracture resistance	(110, 116, 117)
LRP4 HBM	604270	AD & AR	LRP4	Loss of function	LRP4	Impaired sclerostin-LRP4 interaction	Syndactyly, dysplastic nails, gait disturbance, facial nerve palsy, deafness	(118, 119)
LRP5 HBM	603506	AD	LRP5	Gain of function	LRP5	Osteoblast cell membrane co-receptor regulating Wnt signaling	Asymptomatic or toria, skull/mandible thickening, CN palsies, neuropathy, neuralgia, headaches, back/bone pain, spinal stenosis, reduced buoyancy, craniosyntosis, increased height. Fracture resistance	(120–139),
LRP6 HBM	awaited	AD	LRP6	Gain of function	LRP6	Osteoblast cell membrane co-receptor regulating Wnt signaling	Mandible thickening, torus palatinus, teeth encased in bone, absence of adult maxillary lateral incisors, inability to float. Fracture resistance. Increased height	(138)
SMAD9 HBM	awaited	AD	SMAD9	Loss of function	SMAD9	Inhibits BMP dependent targetgene transcription to reduce osteoblast activity	Mandible enlargement, broad frame, torus palitinus/mandibularis, pes planus, increased shoe size, inability to float	(140)
Cranio-metaphyseal dysplasia	123000218400	AD	ANKH	Gain of function	Homolog of mouse ANK	Osteoclast-reactive vacuolar proton pump	Macrocephaly, cranial hyperostosis CN palsies, wide nasal bridge, dental overcrowding, craniofacial hyperostosis & sclerosis, metaphyseal flaring, and high BMD	(141–143),
		AR	GJA1	Loss of function	Gap junction protein alph‐1
Lenz‐Majewski hyperostotic dysplasia	151050	SP	PTDSS1	Gain of function	Phosphatidylserine synthase 1	Phospholipid biosynthesis	Mandible enlargement, generalized hyperostosis, proximal symphalangism, syndactyly, brachydactyly, cutis laxa, developmental delay, hip dislocation, marked hypertelorism, and enamel hypoplasia	(144, 145)

MIM^®, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man; CN, Cranial Nerve; ICP, Intracranial pressure; BMP, bone morphogenetic protein.

^aTori: Oral exostoses which include torus palatinus & mandibularis; found in approximately 25% of a general Caucasian population (146).

^bInitially known as hyperostosis corticalis generalisata familiaris (116, 117).

^cA 52-kb intronic deletion downstream of SOST.

Sclerosteosis causes a large skeleton (sometimes termed ‘gigantism’, though this term is more usually reserved for children with excess long bone growth due to growth hormone excess prior to epiphyseal closure), mandible enlargement, and torus palatinus and mandibularis which can complicate tooth extractions (113, 149). Calvarial overgrowth compresses cranial nerves, particularly facial nerves, sometimes from infancy; in one series 83% of 63 adults had recurrent facial nerve palsies (113). Hearing loss and headaches are common; as is raised intracranial pressure—to the point that craniotomy may be required to prevent sudden death by coning (113, 150). Cutaneous syndactyly of fingers (present in 76%) and toes is an important defining feature, often accompanying dysplastic or absent nails and camptodactaly (113, 150, 151). Sclerosteosis is progressive, which may cause bone and back pain, with bony overgrowth requiring spinal and cranial decompression (113).

Van Buchem’s disease is milder than sclerosteosis, importantly without syndactyly or “gigantism” (110, 150); however, cranial nerve impingements and hearing loss remain common (152). Management is generally limited to surgical bone removal. However, as tried in Camurati-Engelmann disease (progressive diaphyseal dysplasia, MIM131300) glucocorticoids have been used with the aim of reducing high bone turnover, in an isolated case report (153).

LRP5 High Bone Mass

In 1997, a family with HBM but an otherwise normal phenotype was reported with the genetic abnormality localized by linkage analysis to chromosome 11q12–13 (120). The 18-year-old proband had presented following a road traffic accident, without bone injury, but with consequent back pain. In the initial publication, 28 family members were phenotyped, aged 18 to 86 years. Inheritance of the HBM phenotype was autosomal dominant. Affected individuals were asymptomatic and had never fractured; their biochemistry was normal (measured in a subset of 5 affected individuals); and their radiology showed dense bones with thick cortices and reduced medullary cavity but without consequent reduction in hemopoietic capacity. Affected individuals had spinal BMD Z-scores ranging from approximately +3.2 to +7.9; authors used a case definition threshold of Z-score > +3.0. They concluded that as HBM affected individuals aged as young as 18 years of age, the mutation has a role to play in the acquisition of peak bone mass; similarly, the clinical evaluation of older members of the pedigree supported a persistent influence throughout life without consequent disability (120, 121).

Interestingly, around the same time, osteoporosis pseudoglioma syndrome (OPPG) (MIM259770), was mapped to the same region (154). OPPG is characterized by osteoporosis, extreme bone fragility, fracture, and deformity; and although initially considered autosomal recessive, obligate carrier parents usually have low BMD. OPPG is due to inactivating mutations in LRP5 (155). OPPG also leads to visual deterioration at birth or soon after, due to vitreoretinal degeneration, with multiple consequences including retrolental masses, retinal detachment, cataract, phthisis bulbi, microphthalmia, vitreous hemorrhage, secondary glaucoma and blindness (156). Inactivating LRP5 mutations have also been associated with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy type 4 (FEVR-4) (MIM601813), with low BMD a common feature of affected individuals also (157); and it is now recognized that FEVR-4 and OPPG are allelic disorders with overlapping phenotypes. Notably, other forms of familial exudative retinopathy are associated with mutations in other genes that affect Wnt signaling, including LRP4 and FZD4.

Further genetic analysis of the original HBM family, with extension of the pedigree to 38 members, identified a mis-sense LRP5 mutation (c.512G>T, p.Gly171Val), in exon 3. All affected individuals were heterozygous for this mutation, consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance (121). HBM affection status in this kindred-based study was then defined as sum of hip and spine Z-score > +4.

In contrast to inactivating LRP5 mutations associated with OPPG, the HBM phenotype results from activating LRP5 mutations which stimulate osteoblastic bone formation (158). LRP5 has 23 exons, coding for a 1615 amino acid protein, an essential cell membrane co-receptor key to the Wnt signaling pathway which regulates osteoblastic bone formation (122). The majority of the protein constitutes the extracellular β-propellor which has four domains (1180 amino acids in length). All HBM-associated LRP5 mutations identified to date lie in exons 2, 3 and 4, which collectively code for the 1st β-propellor domain (Figure 1; Table 3); and protein modeling suggests they all lie at the top/central region of the extracellular protein (163). It is thought that these mutations reduce binding affinity with sclerostin and Dkk1, negative regulators of LRP5 signaling (163, 164). No inactivating mutations in this 1st β-propellor domain have been identified to date; instead, OPPG-associated mutations have been located within the 2nd and 3rd β-propellor domains, the binding domain, and the terminal signaling peptide (123, 165, 166). A hallmark of increased Wnt signaling in many organs, other than bone, is the development of malignant tumors (167, 168). However, fortunately this has not been reported as a feature of LRP5 HBM.

Table 3.

LRP5 mutations and associated clinical and radiological characteristics reported to date.

No. of reported individualsa	LRP5 base change	Amino acid change	Exon	Country	Ethnicity	Tori TP & TM	Mandible	Neurological complications	Fracture History (#)	Clinical Features other than HBM (reported in at least one person in the kindred)	Radiology	Biochemistry	Refs
1	c.266A>G	p.Gln89Arg	2	UK	Caucasian	No	No	Carpel tunnel syndrome	None	Osteoarthritis	NDG	NDG	(159)
1	c.331G>T	p.Asp111Tyr	2	Argentina	NDG	NDG	Enlarged mandible. Mandibular pain	Headaches	NDG	Severe headaches, extremity pain	Dense cranium, loss of diploe, enlarged mandible, increased cortical thickness of long bones	NDG	(127)
6 of 15	c.461G>T	p.Arg154Met	2	USA from Lithuania	Caucasian	Yesb	Enlarged mandible	None	None	Pain in right hip after prolonged standing in the index case	Increased density of calvarium, mandible & endosteal surface of long bones	Calcium, PO4, bALP normal	(123)
2 of 2	c.509_514dupGGGGTG	p.G171_E172insGG	3	Austria	NDG	No	NDG	Congenital deafness, VII palsy	None	Cochlear implant, migraine. Removal of occipital bone in one individual. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.	Increased calvarial and cortical thickness. Foramen magnum stenosis	Osteocalcin normal. CTX normal in mother, raised in daughter	(160)
3	c.511G>C	p.Gly171Arg	3	Belgium	NDG	NDG	NDG	Headaches	NDG	Severe headaches in one affected individual	Dense skull bones, cortical thickening of the vertebrae and long bones with normal development	NDG	(127)
1	c.511_516delGGTGAG	g.69547_69552delGGTGAG	3	NDG	Caucasian	NDG	Thickened mandible	Hearing impairment. Sudden sight loss aged 16	None	Generalized bone pain, headaches	Calvarial thickening. Restriction of auditory and optic canals	Calcium, PO4, ALP normal. PTH mildly raised.	(161)
19 of 38	c.512G>T	p.Gly171Val	3	USA	Caucasian	NDG	NDG	None	Resistant to #	Asymptomatic	All bones of skeleton radiologically dense, thick cortices, reduced medullary cavity, normal shape	bALP, osteocalcin, deoxy- & pyridinoline X-links normal in subgroup of 5 affected	(120, 121)
7 of 16	c.512G>T	p.Gly171Val	3	Connecti-cutUSA	Caucasian	Yes	Wide, deep mandible,decreased mandibular angle	None	None	Asymptomatic other than difficulty floating	Thickened mandibular rami, marked cortical thickening of long bones, dense vertebrae but shape normal	bALP Ca, PO4, PTH, OPG, RANKL, & urinary NTX normal.Osteocalcin, elevated. All in subgroup of 4 affected	(124)
1	c.512G>T	p.Gly171Val	3	Colorado USA	NDG	Yes	Wide deep mandible	Strabismus, Bells’ palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, headaches, paraesthesias	NDG	Bone painPseudotumor cerebri, type 1 Chiari malformation	Dense skeleton, marked thickening of skull, and skull base, cortical widening that narrowed medullary cavity of the long bones	bALP and osteocalcin normal	(125)
6 of 13	c.512G>T	p.Gly171Val	3	NDG	NDG	TP in all but 1 case	Wide deep mandible	Deafness, sensorimotor neuropathy, dysphonia, spinal stenosis	None	One affected individual required surgery for spinal stenosis, another underwent hip replacement, with difficult surgery attributed to unusual hardness of bone	NDG	NDG	(126)
2 of 2	c.512G>T	p.Gly171Val	3	NDG	NDG	Yes	Wide deep mandible	No detail given	None	One individual had hydromyelia (a complication of type 1 Chiari malformation)	NDG	NDG	(126)
1	c.518C>T	p.Thr173Met	3	UK	Caucasian	No	No	Ulna nerve decompression	2 high impact	OsteoarthritisPalpable enthesophyte at tibial tubercle	NDG	NDG	(159)
1 of 4	c.592A>T	p.Asn198Tyr	3	NDG	NDG	Yes	NDG	No	None	HBM despite steroids. Ear canal decompression surgery. Headaches, back pain	Severe cortical thickening of cranial and long bones	P1NP increased. Calcium, PO4, ALP, PTH normal	(162)
2 of 6	c.593A>G	p.Asn198Ser	3	NDG	NDG	Yes	Wide deep mandible	Deafness, sensorimotor neuropathy, & spinal stenosis	None	NDG	NDG	NDG	(126)
3	c.593A>G	p.Asn198Ser	3	UK	Afro-Caribbean	Yes	Enlarged mandible	None	None	Individuals affected differently Chest wall prominence Fixed flexion at elbows Osteotomy of tibial tubercle (for tendonitis)..:. HBM despite steroids	Increased calvarial thickness	Low bone turnover on Alendronic acid	(159)
?	c.640G>A	p.Ala214Thr	3	Portland USA	NDG	Yes	Elongated mandible	NDG	Resistant to #	Similar phenotype to that described by Boyden et al., 2002.	Increased density of calvarium, mandible and endosteal surface of long bones	NDG	(127, 134)
13 of 24	c.640G>A	p.Ala214Thr	3	Holland	NDG	None	Prominent mandible	CN VII palsy in 2 cases	None	Craniosynostosis, developmental delay, tinnitus, headaches, prominent forehead present in >1 member of pedigree	Increased density of calvarium, mandible, pelvis & endosteal surface of long bones	Calcium, PO4, bALP normal	(129)
1	c.641C>T	p.Ala214Val	3	UK	NDG	NDG	Enlarged mandible	NDG	NDG	Similar phenotype to that described by Boyden et al., 2002	Similar to Boyden et al., 2002.	NDG	(127, 130)
Family 1:1 of 1Family 2 & 3 unknown	c.724G>A	p.Ala242Thr	4	Portland USA, & Sardinia	NDG	Yes	Enlarged mandible	None in one case (393). No detail given in 2 families	Resistant to #	NDG	Increased density of calvarium. Mandible and endosteal surfaces of long bones	NDG	(127, 133–135)
?	c.724G>A	p.Ala242Thr	4	France	NDG	Yes	Enlarged mandible	NDG	Resistant to #	Osteomyelitis of the jaw, hearing difficulties due to small auditory canals in 2 affected individuals	Increased density of calvarium, enlargement of cranial vault	NDG	(136)
2 of 10	c.724G>A	p.Ala242Thr	4	UK	Caucasian	Yes	Enlarged mandible	None	None	Renal calculi (in one individual)Dental overcrowding	NDG	Increased bone turnover at age 21	(159)
1	c.724G>A	p.Ala242Thr	4	UK	Caucasian	Yes	Enlarged mandible	CN V & VII mildly impaired	None	Widespread arthralgia, shin pain & headaches	Increased calvarial thickness with tightly packed brain gyri on MRI. Anterior lumbar syndesmophytes	NDG	(159)
2	c.724G>A	p.Ala242Thr	4	UK	Caucasian	Yes	Enlarged mandible	Conductive deafness	None	Osteoarthritis	NDG	NDG	(159)
Family 1:13 of 32Family 2:7 of 16	c.758C>T	p.Thr253Ile	4	Fyn,Denmark	NDG	NDG	NDG	NDG	No increased # rate	NDG	Generalized sclerosis including calvarium (obliteration of frontal sinuses & mastoids), pelvis & long bones.Enlargement of cranial vault	NDG	(127, 128, 131, 132)
1	c.796C>T	p.Arg266Cys	4	UK	Caucasian	Yes	Enlarged mandible	None	None	HBM despite steroids	NDG	Normal bone turnover	(159)
1	c.844A>G	p.Met282Val	4	Belgium	NDG	Yes	None	None	NDG	Knee pain, chondrocalcinosis & OA. Cervical spine pain. Developed breast cancer	Thickened skull and long bones on MRI and phalanges on X-ray. Increased density of vertebral bodies without OA	Calcium, PO4, bALP, CTX all normal	(137)

# fracture CN Cranial nerve; TP, torus palitinus; TM, torus mandibularis; bALP, bone specific alkaline phosphatise; PO₄, phosphate; PTH, parathyroid hormone; CTX, NTX, C and N-telopeptides cross-links of bone Type I collagen; UK, United Kingdom; NDG, No detail given.

^aNo. of reported individuals (with pedigree size where reported).

^b3 requiring surgical debulking of TP & TM.

Comprehensive description of the clinical phenotype of LRP5 HBM was reported by Boyden et al., in 2002 (124). Seven individuals from a family of 16 were analyzed after routine DXA screening detected two related individuals with high BMD, again due to LRP5 c.512G>T, p.Gly171Val. Again, radiographic thickening of cortices of otherwise normal bones was reported, without history of fracture. However, all cases had deep wide mandibles and torus palitinus. Two of 7 cases reported difficulty floating; the first-time buoyancy was reported in association with bone density in humans. Serum calcium, phosphate, ALP, nf-kB and osteoprotegerin (OPG) were normal, as was urinary NTX-1. However, unlike the first family, osteocalcin was elevated threefold (mean 32.3 (SD 7.4) vs. 9.8 (1.8) ng/mL). This finding was suggestive of a stimulatory effect on periosteal bone formation, leading to an increase in cortical thickness, as has been previously reported in transgenic mice expressing the p.Gly171Val mutation (169).

While Boyden et al.’s large family were asymptomatic of their HBM trait, in a letter of response two years later Whyte et al. reported a 37 year old woman with the same pathogenic variant (LRP5 c.512G>T, p.Gly171Val) but a more severe phenotype, including congenital strabismus, childhood Bells’ palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, life-long headaches, bone pain, and paresthesias (125). She also had a widened and enlarged mandible; and her osseous tori had required dental intervention and removal as they had encased her teeth from an early age. Interestingly, this more extreme case had a normal osteocalcin level.

In their letter of response Boyden et al. detailed a further three unrelated families with LRP5 HBM, two with the same LRP5 c.512G>T, p.Gly171Val variant and one with a novel variant in LRP5 c.593A>G (p.Asn198Ser), also in exon 3 (126) (Table 3). Among these families, some affected individuals had also reported deafness, sensorimotor neuropathy and spinal stenosis, all likely due to bone overgrowth and nerve compression. Contemporaneously, van Wesenbeeck et al. identified a further six novel LRP5 mutations spread through exons 2, 3 and 4 (127). Cases generally had similar features of mandible enlargement, fracture resistance, increased skull thickness and oral tori.

Sixteen activating LRP5 mutations affecting 29 families have now been reported globally, all in exons 2, 3 and 4 and affecting the 1st β-propeller domain (Table 3) (120, 121, 123–137, 159–162). Almost all are missense mutations, with two indels reported. Half of all cases report osseous tori (see below); and only one case has experienced fractures (notably, after high impact). As increasing numbers of individuals are reported, it is apparent that LRP5 HBM may not be as benign as first thought, and indeed shares many features with sclerosteosis and van Buchem’s disease (Table 2)—which is not particularly surprising given they share a common pathway. In addition to the adverse clinical features reported by Whyte et al. (detailed above) (125), Kwee et al. reported a multi-generation family with an LRP5 c.640G>A, p.Ala214Thr mutation, in whom the phenotype extended beyond HBM to include craniosynostosis, developmental delay, and multiple dysmorphic features including macrocephaly and hypertelorism (129). Premature closure of cranial sutures in one infant reportedly caused raised intracranial pressure, optic nerve atrophy and visual impairment (this child also manifest a ventriculoseptal defect); two other individuals had required craniotomy. Foramen magnum stenosis, in one case ultimately requiring craniotomy, has also been reported in association with the only HBM-associated LRP5 insertion reported to date (c.509_514dupGGGGTG, p.G171_E172insGG) (160). The p.Gly171Val mutation has been reported twice in association with a type 1 Chiari malformation (125, 126). Headaches and bone pain are common; bony compression of the optic and auditory nerves causing loss of sight and hearing respectively are frequently reported; and mandibular osteomyelitis, renal calculi and spinal stenosis have also been reported (126, 136, 159). However, joint disease does not appear to be a common feature, with osteoarthritis reported only in some older individuals (159).

Certainly, there will be a bias toward identification of more severe HBM phenotypes associated with LRP5 mutations, as these are more likely to be identified clinically and thus reported. In our own study mentioned earlier, in which we screened 335,115 DXA scans across 15 UK centers, we identified seven families with LRP5 HBM; two with novel and five with previously reported mutations (159). The two novel mutations had milder phenotypes than those reported previously, and arguably would have been less likely to have been identified without gene screening. Our findings suggested that the clinical variability in LRP5 HBM cases may arise from genotype-phenotype correlation, with our protein modeling suggesting the severity of high BMD corresponds to the degree of predicted LRP5 protein disruption (159).

LRP4 High Bone Mass

To date, four cases of HBM associated with pathogenic variants in LRP4 have been published, with both autosomal dominant and recessive inheritance reported (109, 118, 119, 170, 171). Mutations causing LRP4 HBM occur in the central cavity of the third β-propeller domain of the LRP4 protein, impairing the interaction between sclerostin and LRP4 (119) (of note mutations elsewhere in LRP4 are associated with Cenani-Lenz Syndactyly Syndrome, MIM212780) (Figure 1). In addition to HBM, clinical features of LRP4 HBM include syndactyly, dysplastic nails, gait disturbance, facial nerve palsy and hearing loss (of note, no osseous tori have been reported to date) (Table 2) (119). As the phenotype of LRP4 HBM is very similar to sclerosteosis, it has been termed sclerosteosis type 2 (118)—though the clinical course is less severe and arguably more similar to van Buchem’s disease.

LRP6 High Bone Mass

In 2019 Whyte et al. reported two multi-generational families with LRP6-associated HBM, identifying two different heterozygous missense mutations both affecting the first β-propeller of LRP6 (homologous to LRP5 HBM mutations) (Figure 1) (138).

The clinical features of LRP6 HBM are highly reminiscent of LRP5 HBM: generalized osteosclerosis and hyperostosis, mandible enlargement, torus palitinus, teeth encased in excessive bone, resistance to fracture, and an inability to float in water (Table 2), with an additional phenotypic feature of absence of adult maxillary lateral incisors in some individuals (observed in both families). Of note, no signs of osteoarthritis were detected.

Interestingly, not only was LRP6 HBM associated with above-average height, this paper also highlighted increased height in individuals with LRP5 HBM (who were studied for comparison with the LRP6 families) (138). Taken together, the phenotypes suggest increased Wnt signaling seen in all three conditions affects not only bone density but also skeletal growth in childhood and adolescence.

Other Forms of High BMD With Increased Bone Formation, Not Associated With Wnt Signaling Pathways

SMAD9 High Bone Mass

In 2019 we reported the first pedigree with a segregating SMAD9 mutation, with replication in two further unrelated individuals with HBM. Based our population size (34), we estimated the prevalence of SMAD9 HBM as approximately 1 in 100,000, less common than LRP5 HBM (159). As with LRP5 HBM, the clinical phenotype included mandible enlargement, a broad frame and tall stature, torus palatinus, and a tendency to sink when swimming; and no adult fractures were reported (Table 2). A further characteristic, not reported in LRP4, LRP5, or LRP6 HBM, was pes planus. Reassuringly, unlike sclerosteosis and some cases of LRP5 HBM, nerve compression was not seen (159).

SMAD9 (also known as SMAD8, MADH6, and MADH9) encodes a downstream modulator of the BMP signaling pathway. BMPs are members of the TGF-β superfamily, and induce both bone and cartilage formation (172). Our in-silico protein modeling predicted the mutation severely disrupted the structure of the MH1 DNA binding domain of SMAD9, leading to loss-of-function, such that this inhibitory SMAD could no longer repress BMP receptor activation and downstream signaling (173). Our novel findings support the SMAD9-dependent BMP signaling pathway as a potential novel anabolic target for future osteoporosis therapeutics.

Craniometaphyseal Dysplasia

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia (MIM123000), which may be autosomal dominant or recessive, is caused by a mis-sense mutation in ANKH, which encodes the inorganic pyrophosphate channel ANK. The phenotype includes macrocephaly, cranio-facial hyperostosis and sclerosis with cranial nerve palsies, wide nasal bridge, dental overcrowding, metaphyseal flaring and marked HBM (the latter predominantly in AR disease) (141–143).

Lenz‐Majewski Hyperostotic Dysplasia

Autosomal dominant gain of function mutations in PTDSS1 are responsible for Lenz–Majewski syndrome (LMS) (MIM 151050) (174). This very rare syndrome is characterized cutis laxa, facial dysmorphism, severe short stature, brachydactyly, intellectual disability and hyperostotic skeletal dysplasia. Skeletal characteristics include calvarial thickening, marked sclerosis of the skull base and facial bones, a markedly enlarged mandible (much more so than is seen in the Wnt signaling HBM syndromes), dense vertebral bodies, shortened broad ribs, hyperostotic clavicles, scapulae and iliac wings (144, 145). Progressive osteosclerosis with “massive thickening of long tubular bones” is described by the age of 30 years (144). Bilateral hip dislocation has been reported. PTDSS1 codes for phosphatidylserine synthase 1 (PSS1), an enzyme involved in phospholipid biosynthesis, although the mechanism by which this affects bone metabolism is not yet fully understood (174).

Osseous Tori

Oral exostoses include torus palatinus (TP), torus manibularis (TM) and, less commonly, torus maxillaris. Their site determines their nomenclature (with TP lying in the midline of the hard palate and TM usually in the premolar region of the lingual side of the mandible). The size and number of tori an individual may have is highly variable. They are each made up of dense cancellous bone with a surrounding rim of cortical bone; occasionally they contain hemopoietic tissue (175). The only apparent clinical problem associated with tori per se is obstruction to dentition (including denture fitting); and tori rarely require surgical de-bulking. Notably, tori are not present in all cases of LRP5 or LRP6 HBM (Table 3).

Although prevalence estimates have varied widely (between 1 and 64% depending upon the study, definition and population), overall tori appear to be relatively common (approximately 25% of a Caucasian population, clearly much higher than the prevalence of HBM) and appears similar across all ages (146). Interestingly, two separate studies (one among US (90% Caucasian) postmenopausal women and another in elderly Japanese women) have found an association between tori and higher BMD (176, 177). The US study graded tori size (0 to 5) and found a strong correlation with BMD Z-score among 469 women; however, they did not find a similar correlation between age and torus size (176).

Taken together, these data suggesting that torus may reflect acquisition of peak bone mass in early adult life rather than a progressive skeletal change. Moreover, tori do not appear to be sensitive or specific indicators of a monogenic form of HBM but may simply reflect a general association with higher peak bone mass.

Unexplained HBM—A New Entity?

Mutations in the genes mentioned above are extremely rare within the general population, and the vast majority of HBM cases (~97%) remain genetically unexplained (159). Based on our UK study, LRP5 HBM mutations have an estimated prevalence of approximately 5 per 100,000 (159). We identified only one sclerosteosis carrier, who manifested moderately high BMD due to a novel heterozygous nonsense SOST mutation predicted to either prematurely truncate sclerostin or cause nonsense-mediated decay (159). No cases of autosomal recessive sclerosteosis, LRP4 HBM or LRP6 HBM have been identified in the UK to date (159).

Thus there remains a population with generalized raised BMD (Z-score ≥+3.2 at either L1 or hip), usually identified incidentally on routine DXA scanning (34, 159), in whom fracture risk is not increased, with clinical characteristics suggestive of a mild skeletal dysplasia (associated features of mandible enlargement, extra bone at the site of tendon and ligament insertions, broad skeletal frame and larger shoe size, poor buoyancy, as well as an increased BMI) (34). The population is characterized by increased trabecular BMD and by alterations in cortical bone density and structure, leading to substantial increments in predicted cortical bone strength (178). Neither trabecular nor cortical BMD appear to decline with age in the tibia of HBM individuals, suggesting resistance to age-related bone loss in weight-bearing limbs may contribute to their bone phenotype (178). Furthermore, body composition assessment suggests that HBM is associated with a marked increase in fat mass, particularly android fat, in women but not men (179). This clinical appearance of a mild skeletal dysplasia explains 35% of incidental identified high BMD on routine DXA scanning, such that unexplained generalized HBM has a prevalence of 0.18% among a UK DXA-scanned adult population (34).

Within our cohort with unexplained HBM, 41% have a first-degree relative with a similar phenotype; thus unexplained HBM appears to be heritable though this figure has not been formally calculated (34). As mentioned above, mutations of other components of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway have been associated with HBM in murine genetic studies; and it may be these HBM individuals carry rare variants in genes yet to be identified through further sequencing efforts. However, this population with unexplained HBM is enriched for ‘high BMD alleles’ of loci identified through BMD GWAS in the general population. Thus, the genetic architecture of unexplained HBM is, at least in part, explained by common variants (15, 16). This does not exclude the possibility of rare variants of large effect in other genes in some (or all) of this cohort; rather, the effect of such variants with large effect may be modified by their background polygenic architecture.

As higher (i.e., non-artefactually elevated) BMD is associated with prevalent osteoarthritis in the general population (180–183), it is perhaps not surprising that individuals with unexplained HBM have a greater prevalence of radiographic osteoarthritis than their unaffected family members and general population controls, along with a higher incidence of joint replacement (184–186). Interesting, when assessing the individual radiographic sub-phenotypes of osteoarthritis, be it at the hip, knee or hand, osteophytes predominate, with some increased subchondral sclerosis, rather than joint space narrowing (185–187). Taken together this suggests HBM might be associated with a hypertrophic ‘bone-forming’ osteoarthritis phenotype (188). While increased adiposity is also a clinical feature of HBM (with weight a major contribution to the development of degenerative joint disease), there remains an association between BMD and osteophytes, even after adjusting for BMI, at both weight-bearing (e.g. knee) and non-weight-bearing (e.g. distal interphalangeal [DIP] and carpometacarpal [CMC] joints of the hand) joints (186, 187).

More recently, we have been able to follow-up a proportion of our original HBM cohort eight years after initial assessment. We have observed increases in knee osteophytes and joint space narrowing, as well as knee pain and functional limitation (189); findings at the hip are similar (A Hartley et al., submitted for publication). Taken together, these insights from the study of an extreme HBM population suggest that raised BMD may contribute to pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Osteopetroses and Osteosclerotic Conditions With Disturbed Formation and Resorption

High BMD due to Osteoclast Dysfunction

The osteopetroses (Greek etymology: “petro”—to turn to stone) are rare genetic conditions of reduced osteoclastic bone resorption. Defective bone remodeling during growth induces skeletal sclerosis and abnormally dense but brittle bones. First described by the German radiologist Albers-Schönberg as “marble bone disease,” (190, 191) osteopetrosis is now classified by clinical severity (Table 4). The worst prognosis is seen in severe neonatal or infantile forms; a number of intermediate forms have been identified; and later-onset forms characterise the other end of the clinical spectrum (8, 237). Autosomal dominant osteopetrosis (ADO) was historically subdivided into ADO type I and type II. However, ADO type I was subsequently identified as high bone mass due to LRP5 (low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5) mutations (128) (discussed earlier). As LRP5 HBM is not primarily a disease of osteoclasts, and is not characterized by bone fragility, we agree with the most recent edition of the Nosology [compared with the 2015 Nosology (237)] that LRP5 HBM should not be considered an osteopetroses. LRP5 HBM has now been reclassified within the group of “other sclerosing bone dysplasias” (8).

Table 4.

Osteopetrotic conditions and osteosclerotic conditions with disturbed formation and resorption.

Condition	MIM	Inheritance*		Gene	Mutation	Protein	Function	Symptoms	Ref
Severe/neonatal/infantile. autosomal recessive osteopetrosisa	259700604592	AR(OPTB1)		TCIRG1	Loss of function	T-cell, immune regulator 1, H+ transporting, lysosomal subunit A3 of V-ATPase pump	Acidification of the resorption lacuna	Fractures, infections (e.g. osteomyelitis), macrocephaly, frontal bossing, neurologic symptoms, CN compression, blindness, deafness, delayed tooth eruption, hemopoietic failure, death (usually before aged 10)	(190, 192, 193)
	602727611490	AR (OPTB4)		CLCN7	Loss of function	Chloride Channel	Acidification of the resorption lacuna
	259720 607649	AR (OPTB5)		OSTM1	Loss of function	Osteopetrosis associated transmembrane protein 1	β-subunit for CLC-7
	615085	AR (OPTB8)		SNX10	Loss of function	Sorting Nexin 10	Acidification of the resorption lacuna	Macrocephaly, broad open fontanelle, frontal bossing, small chin, and splenomegaly, severe optic atrophy with blindness, anemia, thrombocytopenia	(194, 195)
	602642259710	AR (OPTB2)		RANKL/TNFSF11	Loss of function	Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor κ B ligand/tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, member 11	Osteoclastogenesis, resorption, survival	Osteoclast poor osteopetrosis. Fractures, hydrocephalus, nystagmus, seizures, hypersplenism, less severe course than TCIRG1, CLCN7, OSTN1, SNX10 mutations	(196)
	603499612302	AR (OPTB7)		RANK/TNFRSF11A	Loss of function	Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor κ Bb	Osteoclastogenesis, resorption, survival
Intermediate autosomal recessive osteopetrosis	259710	AR (OPTA2)		CLCN7	Partial loss of function	Chloride Channel	Acidification of the resorption lacuna	Onset in childhood, fractures, short stature, cranial nerve compression	(192, 197)
	259700, 611497	AR (OPTB6)		PLEKHM1	Loss of function	Pleckstrin homology domain containing family M (with RUN domain), member 1	Vesicular trafficking	Osteopetrosis of the skull only (L2-L4 T-score -2.3). Fractures. Raised osteocalcin	(198)
Osteopetrosis with renal tubular acidosis	259730, 611492	AR (OPTB3)		CA2	Loss of function	Carbonic anhydrase II	Intracellular acidification	Developmental delay, short stature, CN compression, blindness, dental complications, fractures, maintained hemopoietic function.	(190, 192)
Osteopetrosis with ectodermal dysplasia and immune defect	300301	XL (OLEDAID)		IKBKG	Loss of function	Inhibitor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells kinase gamma (NEMO),	Unknown	Lymphoedema, severe infections, no teeth, skin abnormalities, early death	(193)
Leucocyte adhesion deficiency syndrome and osteopetrosis	612840	AR (LAD-3)	KIND3/FERMT3		Loss of function	Kindlin-3/Fermitin-3	Cell adhesion	Bacterial infections, bleeding, osteopetrosis, hepatosplenomegaly	(199)
	612840	AR	CalDAG-GEF1/RASGRP2		Loss of function	Calcium and diaclyglycerol-regulated guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1			(200)
Osteosclerotic metaphyseal dysplasia (OSMD)	615198	AR	LRRK1		Loss of function	Leucine-rich repeat kinase 1	Osteoclast function; sealing zone formation	Developmental delay, seizures, metaphyseal osteosclerosis, diaphyseal osteopenia of long bones. Recurrent fractures. Skull unaffected.	(201, 202)
Late onset osteopetrosis (Albers-Schönberg disease) ADOII	166600	AD (OPTA2)	CLCN7		Dominant negative effect	Chloride Channel	Acidification of the resorption lacuna	Classic radiographic features, fractures, nerve compression, osteomyelitis, dental complications.	(192, 203–206)
Pycnodysostosis	265800, 601105	AR	CTSK		Loss of function	Cathepsin K	Collagen degradation	Delayed cranial suture closure, short stature and phalanges, dental abnormalities, fractures	(207–209)
Osteopoikilosis	166700	AD	LEMD3		Loss of function	LEM domain-containing 3	Disrupted BMP and TGFβ signaling pathways	Benign incidental osteosclerotic foci (can mimic metastases),c	(192, 210–214)
Melorheostosis	155950	AD	LEMD3/MAP2K1SMAD3		Loss of function	LEM domain-containing 3Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 1SMAD Family Member 3		Characteristic radiographic features asymmetric ‘flowing hyperostosis’ or ‘dripping candle wax’. Soft tissue changes (hypertrichosis, fibromas, hemangiomas and pain): associated with radiographic features in sclerotome. Contractures can develop
Osteopathia striatad with cranial stenosis	300373	XL (OSCS)	WTX/AMER1		Loss of function	Wilms tumor gene on the X chromosome/APC Membrane Recruitment Protein 1	Wnt signaling suppression	Macrocephaly, CN compression, cleft palate, skull/long bone sclerosis in females. Usually lethal in males	(162, 215)
Dysosteosclerosis	224300	AR	SLC29A3CSF1R		Loss of function	Solute carrier family 29 (nucleoside transporter)Colony Stimulating Factor 1 Receptor	Osteoclast differentiation and function	Neurodevelopmental deterioration, platyspondyly, cranial nerve compression, abnormal dentition	(216–219)
Diaphyseal dysplasia Camurati-Engelmanne	131300	AD	TGFβ1		Probable gain of function	TGFβ	Cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and apoptosis	Variable phenotype. Thickened diaphyseal cortices, limb pain, fatigability, muscle weakness, waddling gait. Variably raised ALP, hypocalcemia & anemia	(220–226)
Ghosal hematodiaphyseal syndrome	274180	AR	TBXAS1		Loss of function	Thromboxane synthase	Modulates RANKL & OPG expression	Impaired platelet aggregation (steroid-sensitive), anemia. Similar to Camurati-Engelmann syndrome but metaphyses also involved	(227, 228)
Trichodentoosseous dysplasia	190320	AD	DLX3		Loss of function	Distal‐less homeobox 3	Ectodermal development	Sparse curly hair, severe dental abnormalities, defective tooth enamel. Sclerosis of calvaria and/or long bones	(229)

MIM^® Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man CN, Cranial Nerve; RANKL, Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-_Kβ Ligand; OPG, Osteoprotegerin; XL, X-linked; ADOII, Autosomal dominant type 2 osteopetrosis.

^aARO incidence is 1/200,000–300,000 live births (193).

^bAs well as an osteoclast poor ARO phenotype, RANK mutations have also been linked to the Paget’s-like diseases (familial expansile osteolysis, expansile skeletal hyperphosphatasia and early-onset Paget’s disease); (230, 231)

^cWhen associated with connective tissue naevi, dermatofibrosis lenticularis disseminata then termed Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome (192, 210, 232)

^dcan occur in combination with focal dermal hypoplasia, skin pigmentation, hypoplastic teeth, syndactyly, ocular defects and fat herniation through skin and is known as Goltz Syndrome (233–236).

^eAlso known as progressive diaphyseal dysplasia.

Osteopetrosis, Late‐Onset Form Type 2 (OPTA2), Previously Known as Autosomal Dominant Osteopetrosis II (ADOII)

OPTA2 (MIM166600, eponymously known as Albers-Schönberg disease) is caused by CLCN7 mutations. CLCN7 functions as a voltage-gated Cl-/H+ ion channel, and is found in lysosomes and on the ruffled boarder of osteoclasts. By acid efflux, it facilitates inorganic bone matrix dissolution (238). Mutations in CLCN7, therefore, result in decreased osteoclastic bone resorption. Multiple mutations have been identified throughout the gene, in association with a range of osteopetrotic phenotypes (239–241). The prevalence of OPTA2 is estimated between 0.2 and 5.5/100,000 (242, 243); however, it exhibits both variable penetrance (60–80%) and expressivity, results in a varied clinical phenotype including detection as an incidental radiographic finding (244). The phenotype can include facial nerve palsy, visual loss (in 5–25%), carpal tunnel syndrome, hip osteoarthritis (in 7%), increased fracture risk and delayed fracture healing, osteomyelitis (in 10–13%, particularly in the mandible), dental abscesses (10%) and deep decay (36%) and, in extreme cases, bone marrow failure (≈3%) (192, 203–206).

Radiographs feature (a) vertebral end-plate thickening (another cause of ‘rugger-jersey spine’), (b) ‘bone-within-bone’ particularly in the pelvis, and (c) transverse sclerotic bands within the distal femorae (203, 206). However, the radiological phenotype is not ubiquitous (≈60–90%) (233, 242). DXA BMD Z-score ranges from +3 to +15 (203, 205).

OPTA2 highlights that high BMD does not necessarily equate to lower fracture risk. In one case series of 94 CLCN7 mutation cases, almost every adult (98%) had experienced a fracture (including, in half of carriers, their hip), with a third having fractured more than once (five had >15 fractures) (205). Among another 42 cases from 10 families, age range 7 to 70 years, the mean number of fractures per person was 4.4 (205). However, these case series are not performed systematically; thus, patterns are difficult to generalise.

Pycnodysostosis

First described in 1962 and said to be the malady of both Toulouse-Lautrec and Aesop (known for his fables) (234–236), pycnodysostosis (MIM265800) is caused by defective enzymatic degradation of organic bone matrix, due to an autosomal recessive mutation in CATK (coding for cathepsin K) (207). To date approximately 30 mutations have been reported among fewer than 200 cases globally (207–209). Secreted by osteoclasts, cathepsin K cleaves type I collagen (245). The characteristic bone dysplasia includes skull deformities, under-developed facial bones with micrognathia, beaked nose, short stature and phalanges, dental caries, persistence of deciduous teeth and abnormally dense but brittle bones (192, 207–209, 246). Affected individuals may also manifest hip fractures indistinguishable clinically from atypical femoral fractures associated with antiresorptive therapy (247). Interestingly, particularly in light of the previous statement, the molecular understanding of pycnodysostosis underpinned development of a novel class of anti-resorptive therapy (248), although ultimately this agent did not make it to market (see below).

β3-Integrin Disorders Associated With Platelet Dysfunction and Osteopetrosis

β3-integrins act with filamentous actin to facilitate podosome attachment of osteoclasts to bone. β3-integrin double knock-out mice develop osteosclerosis, with increased cortical and trabecular mass, as well as hypocalcemia, due to defective osteoclast function (249). ITGB3 encodes glycoprotein IIIa which is the β subunit of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa cell adhesion complex. Interestingly this IIb/IIIa complex acts as a fibrinogen receptor and mediates platelet aggregation; it is this complex which the widely used cardiological drugs tirofiban and abciximab target in their anti-platelet action as glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, used at the time of percutaneous coronary interventions. Hence unsurprisingly, dysfunction of β-integrins appears to cause defective platelet aggregation and HBM in mice models (250). Autosomal recessive mutations in ITGA2B lead to reduced production of either glycoprotein IIb or IIIa, resulting in Glanzmann thrombasthenia (MIM273800) which is characterized by excessive bleeding (251). Only one case of Glanzmann thrombasthenia has been reported with a bone phenotype, with generalized and skull base osteosclerosis observed on plain radiographs of a 5 day old baby (252), termed osteopetrosis and thought due to impaired osteoclast function (253). A similar platelet phenotype has been associated with osteopetrosis (reported in three cases) in the presence of mutations in Kindlin-3 (MIM612840), coding for Kindlin-3 which also interacts with β-integrins. The resulting condition is termed leukocyte adhesion deficiency-3 (LED-3) and predisposes to bacterial infections and bleeding despite normal platelet counts, as well as a bony phenotype (199).

Other Osteosclerotic Disorders

Osteopoikilosis and Melorheostosis

Osteopoikilosis (MIM166700; Greek etymology: poikilos- various) is benign, usually incidental finding characterized radiographically by multiple small round osteosclerotic foci, which can cause concern for metastases. When associated with connective tissue naevi, (dermatofibrosis lenticularis disseminate) it is termed Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome (BOS) (192, 210, 232). Melorheostosis, an asymmetric radiographic appearance of ‘flowing hyperostosis’ described as ‘dripping candle wax’ down the bone, can co-occur with osteopoikilosis. Approximately 200 cases have been described to date. Soft tissue signs and symptoms (see below) are associated with the radiographic features in a sclerotome distribution. Hypertrichosis, fibromas, hemangiomas and pain are sometimes a feature; and contractures and deformity can develop if limbs can become unequal in length (192, 210–212).

Osteopathia Striata

Osteopathia striata can occur in combination with cranial sclerosis (MIM300373) or focal dermal hypoplasia (known as Goltz Syndrome; MIM305600)); both are X-linked dominant diseases and cause striations visible on bone radiographs, together with learning difficulties. In the former, which is due to mutations in AMER1, cranial osteosclerosis can lead to cranial nerve compression (215). In Goltz syndrome, caused by mutations in PORCN, the bone features are associated with skin pigmentation, hypoplastic teeth, syndactyly, ocular defects, and fat herniation through skin (254–256).

Camurati-Engelmann Disease

Camurati-Engelmann disease (progressive diaphyseal dysplasia) (MIM131300) results from a gain-of-function mutation in Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 (TGFB1), resulting in thickened diaphyseal cortices, increased BMD, limb pain, fatigability, muscle weakness and a waddling gait (220). TGF-β controls cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis in many tissues; and its pivotal role in bone regulation is highlighted by the number of skeletal diseases associated with abnormal TGF-β signaling, which include Marfan’s syndrome, Loey-Dietz syndrome, acromesomelic and geleophysic dysplasias and even osteogenesis imperfecta (257).

Ghosal Syndrome

Ghosal syndrome (MIM231095) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in TBXAS1, which encodes thromboxane synthase, resulting in HBM, impaired platelet aggregation, and anemia. The phenotype is not dissimilar from Camurati-Engelmann disease; however, here metaphyses are also affected (227, 228). This condition has linked platelet function with the RANKL/OPG pathway in vitro as thromboxane synthase modulates both RANKL and OPG expression in osteoblasts (228).

X-Linked Hypophosphatemia

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) (MIM307800), caused by phosphate-regulating endopeptidase homolog (PHEX) mutations, has also been reported as a cause of modestly elevated axial, though not appendicular, BMD, in both children (258) and adults (68). However, given the high prevalence of ligamentous calcification and degenerative joint disease in adults with XLH, interpreting a DXA BMD result is complex. Individuals with XLH have a high prevalence of pseudo- and complete fractures, with mean age at first fracture of 26 years (259). However, pertinent to the point regarding fracture vs. BMD, these fractures typically affect the lower limbs, noting that appendicular BMD is not usually increased in XLH; and are usually attributed to the combination of osteomalacia and mechanical stress (from rickets and joint mal-alignment).

Neonatal Osteosclerotic Dysplasias

A handful of rare mutations can cause osteosclerosis in the neonate. Caffey disease (MIM114000), also known as infantile cortical hyperostosis, is a highly unusual bone disease causing excessive bone overgrowth (two-three times normal width—to the point of bone fusion with neighboring bones (e.g. ribs, radius and ulna)), along with joint and soft tissue swelling—which then resolves over the following months. To date all cases carry a single point mutation in COL1A1 (c.3040C>T; p.Arg836Cys) (260). Mutations in COL1A1 usually cause osteogenesis imperfecta; and the reason for the differing phenotype in Caffey’s disease is not known – nor is it known why this condition settles down over time. Interestingly, a COL1A1 mutation has been identified in an Australian terrier with canine hyperostosis (261), and mutations in various solute carrier genes have been described in other cases of canine calvarial hyperostosis and craniomandibular osteopathies (which are likely overlapping conditions) (261). Whether mutations in these genes contribute to human diseases similarly is unknown.

Other forms of neonatal osteosclerosis include Blomstrand dysplasia (MIM215045), due to autosomal recessive inactivating mutations in PTHR1 which codes for the PTH/PTHrP receptor 1, and which is usually lethal; desmosterolosis (MIM602398), due to autosomal recessive mutations in DHCR24 which codes for 3‐beta‐hydroxysterol delta‐24‐reductase, with mutations resulting in impaired sterol‐metabolism; and Raine dysplasia (MIM259775), due to autosomal recessive FAM20C mutations coding for Dentin matrix protein 4, which can also be lethal.

Polygenic Inheritance of High BMD

GWAS in populations selected due to their high BMD have identified novel BMD-determining loci relevant not only in the extreme population but also in the general population. In 2011, we performed the first extreme truncate selection GWAS of BMD (33), as the use of extreme cases and/or “super controls,” drawn from opposite ends of the same population distribution, maximizes statistical power (262). This was one of the first such extreme truncate selection GWAS for any phenotype; and such augmentation of statistical power through analysis of extreme phenotypes has since been shown to be advantageous in a range of clinical phenotypes (263–266) and is now an established approach to investigate the genetic architecture of complex disease (262, 267). In addition to replicating associations for 21 of the then 26 known BMD loci (identified from analyses of populations with normally distributed BMD) (268), we identified six new genetic associations in loci near CLCN7, GALNT3, IBSP, LTBP3, RSPO3, and SOX4 (33), which subsequently replicated in larger general population GWAS (17, 18). This project highlighted the efficiency of extreme-truncated selection for quantitative trait GWAS design (33).

More recently, we conducted a GWAS of arguably the most extreme BMD population to date, identifying further two genome-wide significant SNPs, rs9292469 (48.5kb 3′ of NPR3 with the LD block including part of this gene) and rs2697825 (within an intron of SPON1) associated with lumbar spine and hip BMD respectively. NRP3 regulates endochondral ossification and skeletal growth (269–272), while SPON1 modulates TGF-β-regulated BMP-driven osteoblast differentiation (273). SPON1, coding for an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, had not previously been associated with a bone phenotype in humans; however interestingly, Spon1 knockout mice have a skeletal HBM phenotype (274). These novel loci are now under active investigation as future therapeutic targets.

Translational Potential of Dissecting the Genetics of HBM

The working assumption underlying the efforts of ourselves and others in this field is that understanding the genetic architecture of skeletal diseases characterized by HBM will elucidate critical pathways involved in bone growth and regulation, and aid development of novel therapeutics to increase bone mass (275). Successful drug targets (i.e., those for whom drugs have successfully passed through all development steps to an approved drug indication) are enriched with genes known to be involved in human disease, whether identified through common or rare variant analysis (276). Inspiringly for those of us who study bone, the concordance between disease indication and disease/pathway association (whether identified through rare or common variant studies) is strongest for drugs targeting the musculoskeletal system, compared with all other systems (including diabetes, autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease and oncology). Importantly, there is no relationship between genomic effect size and approved drug status, emphasizing the role of studying both rare variants of large effect and common variants of small effect (276).

The definitive proof-of-concept for this working hypothesis has been the development of antibodies to sclerostin, a protein only identified through analysis of HBM families with sclerosteosis and van Buchem’s disease (110–112), with completion of phase 3 clinical trials (147, 277) and the first-in-class agent (romosozumab) approved for clinical use by the US Food and Drugs Administration. Similarly, genetic dissection of pycnodysostosis led to the development of Cathepsin K inhibitors and the first-in-class agent (odanocatib) (207), successful in phase 3 and extension trials but disappointingly not taken forward into clinical practice (248). Although we acknowledge wholeheartedly that many medications currently used in osteoporosis, were not developed as a direct consequence of genetic studies, it is interesting to reflect that bisphosphonates, selective estrogen receptor modulators, estrogen, cathepsin K inhibitors, denosumab, anti-sclerostin antibodies and PTH and its analogs all target proteins associated with a monogenic bone condition; and, with the exception of bisphosphonates and cathepsin-K inhibitors [but with the potential addition of DKK-1 inhibitors, which have shown promise in murine models (278, 279)], all target genes in loci with common variant association with BMD. We await news of further Wnt pathway agonists, also in development, as novel anabolic treatments for osteoporosis (278–281).

Concluding Comments: The Value of Studying Extreme Phenotypes

In the 17th century William Harvey acknowledged the potential benefits of studying the natural, but rarely occurring, extreme cases, in order that they might elucidate systems pertinent to the general population: “Nature is nowhere accustomed more openly to display her secret mysteries than in cases where she shows traces of her workings apart from the beaten path; nor is there any better way to advance the proper practice of medicine than to give our minds to the discovery of the usual law of Nature by careful investigation of cases of rare forms of disease” (282).

These words summarise the rationale that we (and others) have used in considering and investigating individuals with high BMD (15, 33). The genetic revolution—both sequencing and high-throughput microarray genotyping—has contributed greatly to the understanding of both common (17, 18) and rare (8) bone pathologies, with identification of multiple genes and critical pathways, leading already to the development of novel therapeutics. We would particularly like to highlight that progress in this field has been greatly enabled by collaboration and co-operation between centers and within consortia around the globe. However, as discussed above, the most common form of sclerosing dysplasia appears to be the currently unexplained HBM phenotype, with features suggestive of a mild skeletal dysplasia. Given past history in this field, it is highly likely that further genetic dissection of HBM cases will yield further novel insights into bone regulation; and it is our hope that this work will contribute to improved health for individuals with HBM and for other individuals with metabolic bone diseases.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Funding

CG received funding from Versus Arthritis (grant reference 20000).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.