Stemcell, 78214.1, Human Recombinant RANKL

Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily (Anderson et al.). Cytokines in the TNF superfamily are involved in a variety of long-term cellular activities such as differentiation, proliferation, and cell death (MacEwan). RANKL is a type II homotrimeric transmembrane protein expressed in both a membrane-bound and secreted form (Ikeda et al.). RANKL binds to the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK). Upon binding to its receptor, RANKL activates the AKT signaling pathway (Moon et al.). Osteoprotegerin (OPG) may also bind RANKL, and this binding competes with RANKL-RANK binding (Lacey et al.). RANKL is involved in osteoclastogenesis (Lacey et al.; Yasuda et al.) and T cell activation (Wong et al.).