Bidirectional crosstalk between bone and muscle: the role of RANKL pathway in osteosarcopenia

Osteosarcopenia, which refers to the concomitant presence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, is expected to increase in the rapidly progressive aging world, with serious clinical implications. However, the pathophysiology of osteosarcopenia has not been fully elucidated, and no optimal treatment specific to osteosarcopenia is available. The RANKL-RANK pathway is widely used as a therapeutic target for osteoporosis. Growing evidences support the importance of the RANKL-RANK pathway, not only in bone, but also in muscle, and the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway in muscle diseases has been noted. The muscles and bones closely communicate with each other through various secretory factors called myokines and osteokines. This review covers the roles of the RANKL-RANK pathway in the bone and muscle and their reciprocal interactions. Moreover, we will suggest future directions to move forward for the treatment of osteosarcopenia to prepare for an upcoming aging society.