| Entrez Gene ID |
8600 (NCBI Gene) |
| Official Gene Symbol |
TNFSF11 (GeneCards) |
| Number of variants in TNFSF11 in this database |
5 (view all the variants) |
| Full name |
TNF superfamily member 11 |
| Band |
13q14.11 |
| Other IDs |
Vega:
OTTHUMG00000016807
OMIM:
602642
HGNC:
HGNC:11926
Ensembl:
ENSG00000120659
|
| Other names |
ODF,
OPGL,
sOdf,
CD254,
OPTB2,
RANKL,
TNLG6B,
TRANCE,
hRANKL2
|
| Summary |
This gene encodes a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cytokine family which is a ligand for osteoprotegerin and functions as a key factor for osteoclast differentiation and activation. This protein was shown to be a dentritic cell survival factor and is involved in the regulation of T cell-dependent immune response. T cell activation was reported to induce expression of this gene and lead to an increase of osteoclastogenesis and bone loss. This protein was shown to activate antiapoptotic kinase AKT/PKB through a signaling complex involving SRC kinase and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) 6, which indicated this protein may have a role in the regulation of cell apoptosis. Targeted disruption of the related gene in mice led to severe osteopetrosis and a lack of osteoclasts. The deficient mice exhibited defects in early differentiation of T and B lymphocytes, and failed to form lobulo-alveolar mammary structures during pregnancy. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008] |