Figure 1. Mechanisms of osteoclast activation.

In both osteoclast precursor cells and mature osteoclasts, RANKL/RANK signaling stimulates MYC expression through as-yet undefined mechanisms. MYC, in turn, stimulates the production of ERRα and NFATc1 and may also affect additional pathways. All of these signals ultimately produce multinucleated osteoclasts that can resorb bone.