RANKL Signaling Pathway: A Potential Target for Antiresorptive Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic polyarthritic autoimmune condition characterized by severe bone erosion. Osteoclasts, the bone resorbing cells, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic polyarthritic autoimmune condition characterized by severe bone erosion. Osteoclasts, the bone resorbing cells, are overly produced from the synovial inflammatory tissues in RA leading to excessive bone loss. RANKL-signaling pathway has been established to be the major pathway involved in osteoclastogenesis. This review highlights the role of around 40 osteoclastogenic factors involved in RANKL signaling and their potential to be targeted for antiresorptive therapy in RA. Furthermore, inhibitors of these proteins, which are already known to exhibit antiresorptive potential, have been reviewed. Elucidating new potential candidate therapeutic targets in the osteoclastogenesis pathway will open new avenues into the treatment and diagnosis of the arthritic conditionsare overly produced from the synovial inflammatory tissues in RA leading to excessive bone loss. RANKL-signaling pathway has been established to be the major pathway involved in osteoclastogenesis. This review highlights the role of around 40 osteoclastogenic factors involved in RANKL signaling and their potential to be targeted for antiresorptive therapy in RA. Furthermore, inhibitors of these proteins, which are already known to exhibit antiresorptive potential, have been reviewed. Elucidating new potential candidate therapeutic targets in the osteoclastogenesis pathway will open new avenues into the treatment and diagnosis of the arthritic conditions.