IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2014 Apr;25(2):205-14. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2014.01.002. Epub 2014 Jan 10.
RANK and its ligand RANKL are key molecules in bone metabolism and are critically involved in pathologic bone disorders. Deregulation of the RANK/RANKL system is for example a main reason for the development of postmenopausal osteoporosis, which affects millions of women worldwide. Another essential function of RANK and RANKL is the development of a functional lactating mammary gland during pregnancy. Sex hormones, in particular progesterone, induce RANKL expression resulting in proliferation of mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, RANK and RANKL have been shown to regulate mammary epithelial stem cells. RANK and RANKL were also identified as critical mechanism in the development of hormone-induced breast cancer and metastatic spread to bone. In this review, we will focus on the various RANK/RANKL functions ranging from bone physiology, immune regulation, and initiation of breast cancer.
RANK 及其配体 RANKL 是骨骼代谢中的关键分子，它们在病理性骨疾病中起着至关重要的作用。RANK/RANKL 系统的失调是导致绝经后骨质疏松症的主要原因之一，这种疾病影响着全球数以百万计的女性。RANK 和 RANKL 的另一个重要功能是在怀孕期间发育出功能性泌乳乳腺。性激素，特别是孕激素，诱导 RANKL 的表达，导致乳腺上皮细胞的增殖。此外，RANK 和 RANKL 已被证明可以调节乳腺上皮干细胞。RANK 和 RANKL 也被确定为激素诱导的乳腺癌发展和转移到骨骼的关键机制。在这篇综述中，我们将重点讨论 RANK/RANKL 的各种功能，包括骨骼生理学、免疫调节和乳腺癌的发生。
