RANKL/RANK

Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TNFSF11 gene. Receptor activator of nuclear factor κ B (RANK) is the receptor for RANKL. RANKL/RANK is associated with bone remodeling and repair, immune cell function, lymph node development, thermal regulation, and mammary gland development. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a decoy receptor for RANKL, and regulates the stimulation of the RANK signaling pathway by competing for RANKL. The cytoplasmic domain of RANK binds TRAFs 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 which transmit signals to downstream targets such as NF-κB and JNK.