Osteoprotegerin, the bone protector, is a surprising target for beta-catenin signaling.

Osteoblasts influence bone mass by the amount of bone they synthesize and by regulating osteoclasts, the cells that degrade bone. In the December issue of , Kieslinger et al. (2005) show that immature osteoblasts regulate expression of the osteoclast inhibitor, osteoprotegerin, through an early B cell factor and β-catenin signaling.