Also known as OPG, TR1 and OCIF, this gene encodes Osteoprotegerin, a heparin-binding secretory glycoprotein that belongs to the TNF-receptor superfamily. The TNFR superfamily consists primarily of transmembrane proteins that elicit signal transduction in a variety of cells and are known to mediate diverse biological responses, including cytotoxicity and apoptosis, Osteoprotegerin (OPG) was isolated independently by two laboratories in 1997 [1,2].
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a secretory glycoprotein that is a family member of the TNF receptor (TNFR) superfamily. Osteoprotegerin protects bone by blocking osteoclastogenesis and increasing bone density. Unlike other TNFRs, osteoprotegerin lacks a transmembrane domain as well as any apparent cell-associated signals. High levels of osteoprotegerin mRNA are found in specialized tissues such as lung, heart, kidney, and placenta. There is evidence that osteoprotegerin plays a role in degenerative arterial disease.
