AffiAB® Anti-Osteoprotegerin Antibody

Bone morphogenesis and remodeling involve the formation of bone from osteoblasts and the resorption of bone by osteoclasts. The cytokine osteoprotegerin (OPG) , also designated osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) , is known to inhibit osteoclast formation. A secreted glycoprotein, OPG is a member of the TNF receptor family that increases bone density and volume. OPG is thought to inhibit osteoclastogenesis by disrupting the cell-to-cell signaling between osteoblastic stromal cells and osteoclast progenitors. OPG is known to bind to TRAIL, a death domain-containing protein, and to inhibit TRAIL apoptosis in Jurkat cells. OPG also binds to osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF) , also known as TRANCE/RANKL, a membrane-bound protein belonging to the TNF ligand family. Both TNFα and TNFβ upregulate OPG expression, while the bone resorbing agent prostaglandin E2 downregulates OPG.