Osteoprotegerin and osteoprotegerin-ligand balance: a new paradigm in bone metabolism providing new therapeutic targets.
Osteoprotegerin-ligand, also called Osteoclast Differentiation Factor or RANK-ligand, its receptor RANK and its decoy receptor Osteoprotegerin are key molecules regulating osteoclast differentiation and activation. In this view we discuss structure and expression of these molecules, the genetic models addressing their function and their role in in vivo models of osteoclast differentiation and activation. The new paradigm that has evolved from these studies, is not only important in normal bone homeostasis but also appears to play a role in different diseases that affect the skeleton, such as osteoporosis, inflammatory joint disease and cancer. It has opened a new era in bone research by increasing our molecular knowledge and providing new therapeutic targets in bone disease.
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium. Rik.Lories@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
R J
RJ
Lories
F P
FP
Luyten
D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000188:drug therapy; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C505686:TNFRSF11A protein, human; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; C505688:TNFSF11 protein, human