Considering that in both physiological and pathological processes, the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANK-L), and its receptor, RANK play critical roles in controlling the development, activation, and survival of osteoclasts, we have measured the mRNA levels of RANK in macrophages after HIV infection (3 dpi) with low and high-inoculum (values normalized with GAPDH as housekeeping gene). The gene discussed is TNFSF11; the disease is HIV infectious disease.