2024, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (23): 3736-3742

Osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand and the application of relevant target therapy in oral medicine

Zhou Jing, Zhang Zhao   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) are important cytokines for coupling osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation and activation, and are key factors for regulating bone metabolism, which affect the immune system, bone regeneration and remodeling, and are closely related to the physiological and pathological remodeling of the alveolar bone.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of the OPG/RANK/RANKL signaling pathway on alveolar bone remodeling and the progress in its targeted therapy application in the dental field.
METHODS: We searched relevant articles included in CNKI and PubMed databases with the keywords of “OPG, anti-RANKL antibody, RANKL, periodontitis, orthodontic tooth movement, implant, tooth eruption, periapical lesion, alveolar bone resorption” in Chinese and English, respectively. A total of 63 articles were finally included for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Anti-RANKL therapy can treat oral diseases by targeting the inhibition of osteoclast formation and alveolar bone absorption. Local and systemic anti-RANKL therapy can inhibit the progression of periodontitis, peri-implantitis and periapical lesions, and it also plays an important role in preventing orthodontic relapse, strengthening orthodontic anchorage and implant osseointegration. RANKL therapy can treat oral diseases by promoting osteoclast differentiation and alveolar bone absorption. RANKL treatment can accelerate orthodontic tooth movement, shorten the treatment cycle and reduce the incidence of orthodontic complications. Although there are limitations in anti-RANKL therapy, they can be avoided by rational applications, such as excluding local and systemic risk factors before treatment, regular oral maintenance and avoiding traumatic alveolar surgery as much as possible during treatment.

Key words: anti-receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, osteoprotegerin, anti-receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand antibody, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, alveolar bone resorption