Osteoprotegerin and bone mineral metabolism in renal failure

Purpose of review This review focuses on the impact of a recent breakthrough in bone cell biology for understanding the pathophysiology of bone/vascular abnormalities associated with uraemia. Recent findings Osteoprotegerin is a humoral osteoclastogenesis/osteoclast activation inhibitory factor, which belongs to the TNF-alpha receptor superfamily. Serum osteoprotegerin levels are elevated along with the deterioration of the glomerular filtration rate. The circulating osteoprotegerin molecules were likely to preserve the activity of osteoclastogenesis inhibition, and the levels in many dialysis patients were high enough to inhibit osteoclastogenesis. The higher serum osteoprotegerin levels were related to the development of vascular calcification. Summary Osteoprotegerin is a potential uraemic toxin that increases the skeletal resistance to PTH. However, the roles of increased circulating osteoprotegerin on bone and/or vascular abnormalities in uraemia remain to be clarified.