The osteoclast-not always guilty.
Osteopetrosis is usually regarded as the disease of nonfunctioning osteoclasts, with a consequent accumulation of osseocartilaginous material in the bone marrow. A recent report shows that, in some patients with the rare autosomal recessive form of the disease, the osteoclast defect may be non-cell autonomous, in this case due to a mutation in RANKL, the protein that normally controls osteoclast formation and activity.
Mundy
Gregory R
GR
Vanderbilt Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-0575, USA. gregory.r.mundy@vanderbilt.edu
Edwards
James R
JR
D006801:Humans; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000502:physiology*; D010022:Osteopetrosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D053245:RANK Ligand; C505688:TNFSF11 protein, human