MYCOPHENOLATE MOFETIL: A PROMISING NEW IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT THAT DOES NOT CAUSE BONE LOSS IN THE RAT1,2

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Abstract
Posttransplantation bone disease is a well-described phenomenon; among its etiology is immunosuppressant-induced bone disease. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has emerged as a promising new immunosuppressant. Our study was designed to investigate the effect of MMF on in vivo bone mineral metabolism. Twenty-four 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups to receive either MMF vehicle daily for 28 days or 30 mg/kg MMF daily for 28 days. The serum was assayed for osteocalcin and 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3. Subsequent to double-labeling, the right tibiae were removed on day 28 for histomorphometry. MMF suppressed bone gla protein (osteocalcin) levels on days 14 and 28 (P<0.05). Except for percentage osteoid perimeter, there was no difference in bone histomorphometry between the two groups. In this relatively short-term study, MMF did not cause osteopenia in the rat model, but the suppressed bone gla protein merits further study.