Expression of receptor activator of NF-kappa B ligand and osteoprotegerin in culture of human periodontal ligament cells

The receptor activator of NF-kappa B ligand (RANKL) and its decoy receptor, osteoprotegerin (OPG), are the important proteins implicated in osteoclastogenesis. In this study, we investigated the expressions of RANKL and OPG in cultured human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and their roles in osteoclastogenesis. Northern blotting revealed that the OPG mRNA was downregulated remarkably by application of 10(-8) m one-alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 [1,25-(OH)(2)D-3] and 10(-7) m dexamethasone (Dex). In contrast, RANKL mRNA was up-regulated by the same treatment. Western blotting demonstrated decrease of OPG by the application of 1,25-(OH)(2)D-3 and Dex. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinuclear cells were markedly induced when the PDL cells were cocultured with mouse bone marrow cells in the presence of an anti-OPG antibody together with 1,25-(OH)(2)D-3 and Dex. These results indicate that PDL cells synthesize both RANKL and OPG and that inactivation of OPG may play a key role in the differentiation of osteoclasts.