Periodontal Bone Loss — NDEB AFK MCQ

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ModerateBiomedical SciencesPeriodontal Bone LossNDEB AFK

Which of the following cytokines is most directly associated with osteoclast activation in periodontal disease?

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Correct answer: C — Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)

RANKL is the key cytokine that drives osteoclast differentiation and activation by binding to RANK on osteoclast precursors. In periodontitis, inflammatory cells produce RANKL, tipping the RANKL/OPG ratio towards bone resorption. IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-1ra are generally anti-inflammatory or inhibitory of osteoclastogenesis.

Reference: Newman – Newman and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 13th ed., 2019