Mechanisms involved in normal and pathological osteoclastogenesis

Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing cells that play an essential role in bone remodeling. Defects in osteoclasts result in unbalanced bone remodeling and are linked to many bone diseases including osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, primary bone cancer, and skeletal metastases. Receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) is a classical inducer of osteoclast formation. In the presence of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor, RANKL and...