To study the effects of osteoclast‐targeted therapies, such as osteoprotegerin (OPG) and pamidronate, on joint inflammation and bone destruction using a tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)‐transgenic mouse model.

Mice were placed into 5 groups that received either OPG, pamidronate, a combination of both agents, infliximab as a positive control, or phosphate buffered saline as a negative control. Treatment was initiated at the onset of arthritis, continued over 6 weeks, and thereafter, the clinical, radiologic, and histologic outcomes were assessed.

A significant improvement in clinical symptoms, as assessed by the reduction of paw swelling, was only found in the infliximab group, whereas all other treatment groups failed to show significant improvement. However, when assessing structural damage with radiographic analysis, a significant retardation of joint damage was evident in animals treated with OPG (55% reduction of erosions), pamidronate (50% reduction of erosions) the combination therapy of OPG and pamidronate (64% reduction of erosions), and with infliximab (66% reduction of erosions). Confirming these data, quantitative histologic analysis revealed a significant reduction in the size of bone erosions in all treatment groups (OPG 56%, pamidronate 53%, OPG and pamidronate 81%, and infliximab 46%) compared with the control group. Furthermore, a significant reduction of osteoclast numbers was seen in animals treated with OPG alone or in combination with pamidronate as well as in animals treated with infliximab.

These data suggest that OPG alone or in combination with bisphosphonates is an effective therapeutic tool for the prevention of TNFα‐mediated destruction of bone by reducing the number of bone‐resorbing cells in the inflammatory tissue.