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Levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator for nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) in serum: Are they of any help?

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) und Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor kappaB Ligand (RANKL) Bestimmung im Serum: Sinn oder Unsinn?

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Zusammenfassung

Der Knochen unterliegt einem ständigen Umbauprozess, wobei das Zusammenspiel zwischen Knochenneubildung durch die Osteoblasten und Knochenresorption durch die Osteoklasten über das OPG/RANKL/RANK-System streng geregelt ist. OPG wird von Osteoblasten und deren Vorläuferzellen produziert, kommt jedoch nahezu ubiquitär im Organismus vor. RANKL wird in erster Linie von Osteoklasten und immunkompetenten Zellen produziert, und bewirkt durch die Bindung an seinen Rezeptor RANK die Aktivierung, Proliferation und Verringerung der Apoptoserate von Osteoklasten. Seit Assays zur Bestimmung der OPG und RANKL Serumspiegel am Markt erhältlich sind, steht die Evaluierung der möglichen Zusammenhänge von Serumkonzentrationen dieser Key-Regulatoren in Relation zu Aktivität von metabolischen Knochenstoffwechselstörungen, Alter, Geschlecht, Knochendichte und Frakturrisiko im Fokus des wissenschaftlichen Interesses. Inhalt des aktuellen Review Artikels ist es, eine Zusammenfassung der derzeit vorliegenden publizierten Daten von Serum OPG und RANKL Spiegeln und deren Zusammenhang mit Veränderung des Knochenstoffwechsels zu geben.

Summary

The coupling of bone formation and resorption is mediated through the OPG/RANK/RANKL system. OPG and RANKL are mainly produced by osteoblasts but also a variety of other tissues. The binding of RANKL to RANK, its natural receptor which is expressed by osteoclasts, accelerates bone resorption. OPG acts as decoy receptor and prevents the interaction of RANKL with RANK and therefore leads to a decrease in activity, survival and proliferation of osteoclasts. Since assays for measurements of serum OPG and RANKL have become commercially available, intense research focused on serum OPG/RANKL levels in context with underlying disease, age, co-morbidities, bone density, and fractures has derived. This review aims to provide an overview if and to which extent serum OPG and RANKL levels may reflect bone metabolism in patients with osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease.

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  1. Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    Doris Wagner

  2. Division of Endocrinology and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    Astrid Fahrleitner-Pammer

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Correspondence to Astrid Fahrleitner-Pammer.

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Wagner, D., Fahrleitner-Pammer, A. Levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator for nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) in serum: Are they of any help?. Wien Med Wochenschr 160, 452–457 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-010-0818-x

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