Pamidronic acid is a second generation, nitrogen containing bisphosphonate similar to neridronic acid and alendronic acid. Pamidronic acid was first described in the literature in 1977. The second generation bisphosphonates are less common as third generation bisphosphonates, such as ibandronic acid, zoledronic acid, minodronic acid, and risedronic acid are becoming more popular. Bisphosphonates are taken into the bone where they bind to hydroxyapatite. Bone resorption by osteoclasts causes local acidification, releasing the bisphosphonate, which is taken into the osteoclast by fluid-phase endocytosis. Endocytic vesicles become acidified, releasing bisphosphonates into the cytosol of osteoclasts where they act. Osteoclasts mediate resorption of bone. When osteoclasts bind to bone they form podosomes, ring structures of F-actin. Disruption of the podosomes causes osteoclasts to detach from bones, preventing bone resorption. Nitrogen containing bisphosphonates such as pamidronate are known to induce apoptosis of hematopoietic tumor cells by inhibiting the components of the mevalonate pathway farnesyl diphosphate synthase, farnesyl diphosphate, and geranylgeranyl diphosphate. These components are essential for post-translational prenylation of GTP-binding proteins like Rap1. The lack of prenylation of these proteins interferes with their function, and in the case of Rap1, leads to apoptosis. pamidronate also activated caspases 3 and 9 which further contribute to apoptosis.

Pamidronate References