TNFRSF11B and bacterial infectious disease: Under physiological conditions, LTF is a salivary antimicrobial and immunomodulatory defence factor against bacterial infections (including peri-implantopathogens) that also stimulates osteoblastic proliferation and differentiation to produce new bone matrix, while inhibiting osteoclastic action by stimulating the binding of OPG to RANK (Naot et al. 2005).