The RANK/RANKL axis controls vascular dynamics in the bone marrow

T Takeshi Kaneko (Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka) S Shinya Yari (Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka) J Junichi Kikuta (Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka) Y Yoshiki Omatsu (World Premier International Research Center Initiative Immunology Frontier Research Center, The University of Osaka) S Shigeto Seno (Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Osaka) S Sumire Kikuchi (Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka) K Kazuma Sato (Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka) K Kentaro Fujii (Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka) T Takao Sudo (Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka) T Tetsuo Hasegawa (Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka) K Kunimaro Furuta (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic) Q Qianqian Guo (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic) S Samar H. Ibrahim (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic) K Kosuke Muraoka (Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Osaka) Y Yoshiaki Okada (Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Osaka) Y Yoshiaki Kubota (Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine) D Daisuke Okuzaki Y Yasuhiro Kobayashi (Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Kumatori, Osaka 590-0494, Japan) A Atsushi Kumanogoh N Nobuyuki Udagawa (Department of Biochemistry, Matsumoto Dental University) T Takashi Nagasawa (World Premier International Research Center Initiative Immunology Frontier Research Center, The University of Osaka) J Josef M. Penninger (Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research) M Masaru Ishii (Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka)

Abstract

Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) is an essential cytokine that induces osteoclastic differentiation by monocyte-macrophage lineage precursors. Here, we showed that in addition to its conventional action, RANKL controls vascular permeability in the bone marrow, where it facilitates the mobilization of hematopoietic monocytic cells, including osteoclast precursors, and resultantly regulates bone metabolism. RANK, a cognate receptor for RANKL, is abundantly expressed in sinusoidal endothelial cells and controls vascular permeability by regulating the expression patterns of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1. High RANKL expression was detected in perivascular C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 12-abundant reticular (CAR) stromal cells. Specific deletion of RANKL expression in CAR cells abrogated the vascular leakage, suggesting that perivascular RANKL is responsible for controlling permeability. In summary, our study revealed a role for RANK/RANKL signaling as a gatekeeper of bone marrow sinusoids in vivo.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 45
Published November 11, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (23)

T

Takeshi Kaneko

Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka

S

Shinya Yari

Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka

J

Junichi Kikuta

Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka

Y

Yoshiki Omatsu

World Premier International Research Center Initiative Immunology Frontier Research Center, The University of Osaka

S

Shigeto Seno

Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Osaka

S

Sumire Kikuchi

Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka

K

Kazuma Sato

Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka

K

Kentaro Fujii

Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka

T

Takao Sudo

Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka

T

Tetsuo Hasegawa

Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka

K

Kunimaro Furuta

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic

Q

Qianqian Guo

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic

S

Samar H. Ibrahim

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic

K

Kosuke Muraoka

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Osaka

Y

Yoshiaki Okada

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Osaka

Y

Yoshiaki Kubota

Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine

D

Daisuke Okuzaki

Y

Yasuhiro Kobayashi

Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Kumatori, Osaka 590-0494, Japan

A

Atsushi Kumanogoh

N

Nobuyuki Udagawa

Department of Biochemistry, Matsumoto Dental University

T

Takashi Nagasawa

World Premier International Research Center Initiative Immunology Frontier Research Center, The University of Osaka

J

Josef M. Penninger

Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research

M

Masaru Ishii

Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka