Fig. 5From: The underestimated role of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MiTF) in normal and pathological haematopoiesisMiTF in osteoclast differentiation. MiTF is induced during osteoclastogenesis by both M-CSF, the cytokine responsible for the proliferation of osteoclast progenitors and their commitment towards an osteoclast fate, and RANKL, which induces the differentiation of osteoclasts through RANK signalling. M-CSF induces MiTF through the MAPK/ERK pathway, while RANKL signalling acts through the TAK1/p38 MAPK pathway. In parallel, RANKL also induces the expression of NFATc1, the other transcription factor essential for osteoclast differentiation. The MITF-PU.1 complex interacts with NFATc1 at osteoclast target gene promoters to initiate and maintain the expression of target genes. These genes encode markers of osteoclast differentiation, transmembrane proteins involved in the fusion of osteoclast precursors and enzymes involved in bone resorptionBack to article page