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OPG/RANK/RANKL

Meaning

The OPG/RANK/RANKL system is a critical signaling triad that precisely regulates bone metabolism, specifically the balance between bone resorption and bone formation. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a decoy receptor that inhibits the interaction between the Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor κB (RANK) and its ligand (RANKL). This triad dictates the activity of osteoclasts, the cells responsible for breaking down bone tissue, and is profoundly influenced by sex steroid hormones like estrogen.