Survey of the enthesopathy of X-linked hypophosphatemia and its characterization in Hyp mice

Calcif Tissue Int. 2009 Sep;85(3):235-46. doi: 10.1007/s00223-009-9270-6. Epub 2009 Jul 17.

Abstract

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is characterized by rickets and osteomalacia as a result of an inactivating mutation of the PHEX (phosphate-regulating gene with homology to endopeptidases on the X chromosome) gene. PHEX encodes an endopeptidase that, when inactivated, results in elevated circulating levels of FGF-23, a novel phosphate-regulating hormone (a phosphatonin), thereby resulting in increased phosphate excretion and impaired bone mineralization. A generalized and severe mineralizing enthesopathy in patients with XLH was first reported in 1985; we likewise report a survey in which we found evidence of enthesopathy in fibrocartilaginous insertion sites, as well as osteophyte formation, in the majority of patients. Nonetheless, there has been very little focus on the progression and pathogenesis underlying the paradoxical heterotopic calcification of tendon and ligament insertion sites. Such studies have been hampered by lack of a model of mineralizing enthesopathy. We therefore characterized the involvement of the most frequently targeted fibrocartilaginous tendon insertion sites in Hyp mice, a murine model of the XLH mutation that phenocopies the human syndrome in every detail including hypophosphatemia and elevated FGF-23. Histological examination of the affected entheses revealed that mineralizing insertion sites, while thought to involve bone spur formation, were not due to bone-forming osteoblasts but instead to a significant expansion of mineralizing fibrocartilage. Our finding that enthesis fibrocartilage cells specifically express fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3)/Klotho suggests that the high circulating levels of FGF-23, characteristic of XLH and Hyp mice, may be part of the biochemical milieu that underlies the expansion of mineralizing enthesis fibrocartilage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Achilles Tendon / diagnostic imaging
  • Achilles Tendon / metabolism
  • Achilles Tendon / pathology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / pathology*
  • Calcinosis / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Familial Hypophosphatemic Rickets / diagnostic imaging
  • Familial Hypophosphatemic Rickets / pathology*
  • Familial Hypophosphatemic Rickets / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor-23
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / analysis
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / blood
  • Genetic Diseases, X-Linked*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Middle Aged
  • Patellar Ligament / diagnostic imaging
  • Patellar Ligament / metabolism
  • Patellar Ligament / pathology
  • Phenotype
  • Quadriceps Muscle / diagnostic imaging
  • Quadriceps Muscle / metabolism
  • Quadriceps Muscle / pathology
  • Radiography
  • Rheumatic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Rheumatic Diseases / pathology*
  • Rheumatic Diseases / physiopathology
  • Tendinopathy / diagnostic imaging
  • Tendinopathy / pathology*
  • Tendinopathy / physiopathology
  • Tendons / diagnostic imaging
  • Tendons / metabolism
  • Tendons / pathology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • FGF23 protein, human
  • Fgf23 protein, mouse
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor-23