Products

Qualitative

Entrez GeneID

Protein Accession#

Gene Name

TNFSF11

Gene Alias

CD254, ODF, OPGL, OPTB2, RANKL, TRANCE, hRANKL2, sOdf

Gene Description

tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, member 11

Omim ID

Gene Ontology

Gene Summary

This gene encodes a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cytokine family which is a ligand for osteoprotegerin and functions as a key factor for osteoclast differentiation and activation. This protein was shown to be a dentritic cell survival factor and is involved in the regulation of T cell-dependent immune response. T cell activation was reported to induce expression of this gene and lead to an increase of osteoclastogenesis and bone loss. This protein was shown to activate antiapoptotic kinase AKT/PKB through a signaling complex involving SRC kinase and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) 6, which indicated this protein may have a role in the regulation of cell apoptosis. Targeted disruption of the related gene in mice led to severe osteopetrosis and a lack of osteoclasts. The deficient mice exhibited defects in early differentiation of T and B lymphocytes, and failed to form lobulo-alveolar mammary structures during pregnancy. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found. [provided by RefSeq

Other Designations

OTTHUMP00000178585|TNF-related activation-induced cytokine|osteoclast differentiation factor|osteoprotegerin ligand|receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand|tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily, member 11