[Osteoprotegerin (OPG/OCIF) inhibits bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis models].
Recent discovery of factors involved in bone destruction in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) identified its molecular mechanism. Osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF, also called receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) ) that controls osteoclast differentiation and function has a major role in the bone destruction among them. Osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF, also called osteoprotegerin (OPG) ) that is a decoy receptor for ODF/RANKL is a specific inhibitor of bone destruction. OPG/OCIF may be useful for and applicable to the treatment of bone destruction in RA.
Yasuda
H
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Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo.