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. 2020 Nov 10;8(11):1765. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8111765

Figure 2.

Figure 2

The crosstalk between osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts maintains an adequate bone mass. The balance between receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) controls osteoclastogenesis. Osteoblast and osteocytes produce RANKL that binds to its receptor on the surface of osteoclasts. Simultaneously, osteoblasts secrete osteoprotegerin (OPG), a decoy receptor for RANKL. The production of OPG makes RANKL unavailable for osteoclasts, representing a second layer controlling bone resorption, dependent on osteoblasts.