Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing cells that are derived from hematopoietic precursor cells
and require macrophage-colony stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB
ligand (RANKL) for their survival, proliferation, differentiation, and activation. The binding of
RANKL to its receptor RANK triggers osteoclast precursors to differentiate into osteoclasts.
This process depends on RANKL-RANK signaling, which is temporally regulated by various
adaptor proteins and kinases. Here we summarize the current understanding of the …