1. Academic Validation
  2. The roles of osteoprotegerin in cancer, far beyond a bone player

The roles of osteoprotegerin in cancer, far beyond a bone player

  • Cell Death Discov. 2022 May 6;8(1):252. doi: 10.1038/s41420-022-01042-0.
Yufei Wang # 1 2 3 Yiyang Liu # 1 2 3 Zhao Huang 4 5 6 Xiaoping Chen 7 8 9 10 Bixiang Zhang 11 12 13 14
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
  • 2 Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatic Surgery at Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.
  • 3 Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
  • 4 Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. huangzhao@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.
  • 5 Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatic Surgery at Hubei Province, Wuhan, China. huangzhao@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.
  • 6 Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. huangzhao@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.
  • 7 Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. chenxpchenxp@163.com.
  • 8 Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatic Surgery at Hubei Province, Wuhan, China. chenxpchenxp@163.com.
  • 9 Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. chenxpchenxp@163.com.
  • 10 Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, National Health Commission; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China. chenxpchenxp@163.com.
  • 11 Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. bixiangzhang@163.com.
  • 12 Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatic Surgery at Hubei Province, Wuhan, China. bixiangzhang@163.com.
  • 13 Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. bixiangzhang@163.com.
  • 14 Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, National Health Commission; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China. bixiangzhang@163.com.
  • # Contributed equally.
Abstract

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), also known as tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 11B (TNFRSF11B), is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily. Characterized by its ability to bind to receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), OPG is critically involved in bone remodeling. Emerging evidence implies that OPG is far beyond a bone-specific modulator, and is involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes, such as immunoregulation, vascular function, and fibrosis. Notably, numerous preclinical and clinical studies have been conducted to assess the participation of OPG in tumorigenesis and Cancer development. Mechanistic studies have demonstrated that OPG is involved in multiple hallmarks of Cancer, including tumor survival, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), neo-angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. In this review, we systematically summarize the basis and advances of OPG from its molecular structure to translational applications. In addition to its role in bone homeostasis, the physiological and pathological impacts of OPG on human health and its function in Cancer progression are reviewed, providing a comprehensive understanding of OPG. We aim to draw more attention to OPG in the field of Cancer, and to propose it as a promising diagnostic or prognostic biomarker as well as potential therapeutic target for Cancer.

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