Abstract
Osteoporosis, a disease endemic in Western society, typically reflects an imbalance in skeletal turnover so that bone resorption exceeds bone formation. Bone resorption is the unique function of the osteoclast, and anti-osteoporosis therapy to date has targeted this cell. The osteoclast is a specialized macrophage polykaryon whose differentiation is principally regulated by macrophage colony-stimulating factor, RANK ligand, and osteoprotegerin. Reflecting integrin-mediated signals, the osteoclast develops a specialized cytoskeleton that permits it to establish an isolated microenvironment between itself and bone, wherein matrix degradation occurs by a process involving proton transport. Osteopetrotic mutants have provided a wealth of information about the genes that regulate the differentiation of osteoclasts and their capacity to resorb bone.
Keywords
OsteoclastBone resorptionOsteoporosisCell biologyResorptionBone remodeling periodBone remodelingOsteopetrosisChemistryInternal medicineMacrophage colony-stimulating factorOsteoimmunologyOsteoprotegerinMacrophageEndocrinologyRANKLBiologyMedicineReceptorBiochemistry
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Publication Info
- Year
- 2000
- Type
- review
- Volume
- 289
- Issue
- 5484
- Pages
- 1504-1508
- Citations
- 3910
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Steven L. Teitelbaum
(2000).
Bone Resorption by Osteoclasts.
Science
, 289
(5484)
, 1504-1508.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.289.5484.1504
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1126/science.289.5484.1504