Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is an essential component of the signaling complex that mediates osteoclastogenesis. As an adaptor protein of E3 ligase function, TRAF6 regulates NF-kappaB signaling via TAK1 and I-kappaB kinase (IKK) activation. TRAF6 (TNF receptor associated factor 6) plays a pivotal role in NFKB activation and macroautphagy/autophagy activation induced by TLR4 (toll like receptor 4) signaling. TRAF6 is one of the key adapter molecules in Toll-like receptor signal transduction that triggers downstream cascades involved in innate immunity.