RANKL and RANK in extracellular vesicles: surprising new players in bone remodeling.

ABSTRACT: Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B-ligand (RANKL), its receptor RANK, and osteoprotegerin which binds RANKL and acts as a soluble decoy receptor, are essential controllers of bone remodeling. They also play important roles in establishing immune tolerance and in the development of the lymphatic system and mammary glands. In bone, RANKL stimulates osteoclast formation by binding RANK on osteoclast precursors and osteoclasts. This is required for bone resorption. Recently, RANKL and RANK have been shown to be functional components of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Data linking RANKL and RANK in EVs to biological regulatory roles are reviewed, and crucial unanswered questions are examined. RANKL and RANK are transmembrane proteins and their presence in EVs allows them to act at a dis

SUBMITTER: Holliday LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8112638 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature