Receptor activator of nuclear factor Kappa-B Ligand (RANKL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor ligand (TNF) family involved in immune responses and immunomodulation. Expressed in various cells types around the body, RANKL plays a crucial role in bone remodeling and development of the thymus, lymph nodes and mammary glands. Research in other species demonstrates that RANKL is required for the development of microfold cells (M cells) in the gut, however limited information specific to cattle is available. Cloning and expression of bovine RANKL (BoRANKL) was carried out and bioactivity of the protein was demonstrated in the induction of osteoclast differentiation from both bovine and ovine bone marrow cells. The effects of BoRANKL on particle uptake in bovine enteroids was also assessed. The production of cross-reactive bovine RANKL protein will enable further investigations into cell differentiation using the available ruminant organoid systems, and their role in investigating host-pathogen interactions in cattle and sheep.

核因子 Kappa-B 配体受体激活剂 (RANKL) 是参与免疫反应和免疫调节的肿瘤坏死因子配体 (TNF) 家族的成员。RANKL 在身体周围的各种细胞类型中表达，在骨重塑以及胸腺、淋巴结和乳腺的发育中发挥着至关重要的作用。对其他物种的研究表明，RANKL 是肠道微折叠细胞（M 细胞）发育所必需的，但针对牛的信息有限。进行了牛 RANKL (BoRANKL) 的克隆和表达，并证明了该蛋白在诱导牛和羊骨髓细胞破骨细胞分化方面的生物活性。还评估了 BoRANKL 对牛肠类颗粒摄取的影响。交叉反应性牛 RANKL 蛋白的生产将能够利用现有的反刍动物类器官系统进一步研究细胞分化，及其在研究牛和羊宿主与病原体相互作用中的作用。