Pharmacological Topics of Bone Metabolism: A Novel Bisphosphonate for the Treatment of Periodontitis

Abstract

It has been reported that the pharmacological characteristics of bisphosphonates vary depending on the side chain attached to the carbon atom of the P-C-P bond. TRK-530 is a novel synthetic bisphosphonate with an anti-oxidant methylthio-phenylthio side chain. This compound has been suggested to have both anti-inflammatory and anti–bone-resorbing effects. Such a compound could be effective for the treatment of diseases with excessive bone resorption accompanied by inflammation. We have been studying this compound as a potential therapeutic agent for periodontitis. To date, we have found that 1) TRK-530 inhibited osteoclastic bone resorption in animals and in bone organ culture, 2) both systemic and topical administration of TRK-530 prevented alveolar bone loss in animals with experimental periodontitis, 3) TRK-530 prevented prostaglandin E2synthesis by inhibiting the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA, and 4) TRK-530 inhibited the formation of dental calculus. The above results suggest that TRK-530 might be useful for the treatment of alveolar bone loss in periodontitis. Keywords:: bisphosphonate, periodontitis, bone resorption, prostaglandin E2, dental calculus, bone metabolism