Osteoclast Differentiation by RANKL Requires NF-κB-Mediated Downregulation of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6 (Cdk6)

Abstract

Among the cell cycle factors examined, the Cdk6 level was downregulated by RANKL synchronously with the appearance of multinucleated osteoclasts. Inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway by IKK(DN) overexpression, but not that of the JNK pathway by MKK7(DN) overexpression, caused the decreases in both Cdk6 downregulation and osteoclastogenesis by RANKL. RAW cells overexpressing Cdk6 resist RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis; however, cell cycle regulation was not affected by the levels of Cdk6 overexpression, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of Cdk6 on osteoclast differentiation was not exerted through cell cycle regulation. These results indicate that Cdk6 is a critical regulator of RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and that its NF-kappaB-mediated downregulation is essential for efficient osteoclast differentiation.