Osteoclast-poor human osteopetrosis due to mutations in the gene encoding RANKL.
Sobacchi C,
Frattini A,
Guerrini MM,
Abinun M,
Pangrazio A,
Susani L,
Bredius R,
Mancini G,
Cant A,
Bishop N,
Grabowski P,
Del Fattore A,
Messina C,
Errigo G,
Coxon FP,
Scott DI,
Teti A,
Rogers MJ,
Vezzoni P,
Villa A,
Helfrich MH.
Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via F. Cervi 93, 20090 Segrate, Italy.
Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis is usually associated with normal or elevated numbers of nonfunctional osteoclasts. Here we report mutations in the gene encoding RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor-KB ligand) in six individuals with autosomal recessive osteopetrosis whose bone biopsy specimens lacked osteoclasts. These individuals did not show any obvious defects in immunological parameters and could not be cured by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; however, exogenous RANKL induced formation of functional osteoclasts from their monocytes, suggesting that they could, theoretically, benefit from exogenous RANKL administration.
PMID: 17632511 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]