A Novel Vitamin D Receptor Agonist, VS-105, Improves Bone Mineral Density without Affecting Serum Calcium in a Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Rat Model

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: VS-105, a novel vitamin D receptor agonist with significantly less hypercalcemic side effects than calcitriol, is a useful tool to investigate whether or not a vitamin D receptor agonist at non-hypercalcemic doses could improve bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: VS-105 and calcitriol were evaluated in an ovariectomized (OVX) osteoporosis rat model and in calvariae bone organ culture. RESULTS: Treatment of OVX rats by VS-105 (0.1, 0.2 or 0.5 μg/kg, intraperitoneal, 3×/week, for 90 days) significantly improved BMD in the L3 lumbar vertebra in a dose-dependent manner (sham vs. OVX/vehicle: 324 ± 14 vs. 279 ± 10 mg/cm(2); VS-105 at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 μg/kg: 306 ± 9, 329 ± 12, and 327 ± 10 mg/cm(2), respectively) without affecting serum calcium (Ca). Calcitriol at 0.1 μg/kg significantly increased BMD but it also increased serum Ca. VS-105 and calcitriol at the test doses significantly suppressed serum parathyroid hormone and promoted tibia bone growth. With respect to biomarkers of bone remodeling, calcitriol and VS-105 both significantly elevated serum osteocalcin. In the calvariae bone organ culture, net Ca release was significantly less in VS-105-treated groups (vs. calcitriol). CONCLUSIONS: VS-105 is efficacious in improving BMD in a dose range that does not affect serum Ca in OVX rats; the improvement in BMD by VS-105 is attributable to increased osteoblastic activity and reduced osteoclastic bone resorption.