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Related Concept Videos

Bone Remodeling01:40

Bone Remodeling

Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during bone...
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
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Bone as Supporting Connective Tissue01:23

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Bone Matrix
Bone, or osseous tissue, is a connective tissue that has a large amount of two different types of matrix material. The organic matrix is similar to the matrix material found in other connective tissues, including some amount of collagen and elastic fibers. This gives strength and flexibility to the tissue. The inorganic matrix consists of mineral salts— mostly calcium salts— that give the...
Bone Cells and Tissue01:30

Bone Cells and Tissue

Bones contain a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of organic and inorganic components. Although bone cells compose only a small amount of the bone volume, they are crucial to its function. Four types of cells are found within the bone tissue— osteoblasts, osteocytes, osteogenic cells, and osteoclasts.
Osteoblasts and Osteocytes
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The Bone Matrix01:18

The Bone Matrix

Bone contains a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of collagen fibers that provide an adherent surface for inorganic salt crystals. Both components of the matrix, organic and inorganic, contribute to the unusual properties of bone. Without collagen, bones would be brittle and shatter easily. Without mineral crystals, bones would flex and provide little support. This can be observed by an experiment: when the minerals of a bone are dissolved by soaking the bone in acid or...

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Automated Quantification of Hematopoietic Cell – Stromal Cell Interactions in Histological Images of Undecalcified Bone
09:31

Automated Quantification of Hematopoietic Cell – Stromal Cell Interactions in Histological Images of Undecalcified Bone

Published on: April 8, 2015

Cell-to-cell interactions in bone.

Joseph P Stains1, Roberto Civitelli

  • 1Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|February 8, 2005
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell-to-cell interactions are crucial for bone development and remodeling. This review explores how direct cell communication, particularly through junctions, influences osteoblast function and bone homeostasis.

Keywords:
Non-programmatic

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Skeletal Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Bone development (modeling) involves cell migration and condensation.
  • Bone remodeling requires coordinated activity of osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts for homeostasis.
  • Intercellular communication is essential for cell sorting, migration, and synchronized activity during bone processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on how direct cell-to-cell interactions influence osteoblast function.
  • To highlight the role of intercellular communication in bone modeling and remodeling.
  • To examine the mechanisms of cell recognition and communication in bone cells.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on cell-cell interactions in bone biology.
  • Analysis of mechanisms involving cadherin-based adherens junctions.
  • Examination of the role of gap junctions in osteoblast and osteocyte communication.

Main Results:

  • Direct cell-to-cell interactions are critical for osteoblast function.
  • Adherens junctions and gap junctions mediate intercellular communication in bone cells.
  • These interactions facilitate cell migration, synchronized activity, and signal diffusion.

Conclusions:

  • Tightly regulated cell-to-cell communication is fundamental to bone modeling and remodeling.
  • Understanding these interactions provides insights into maintaining bone homeostasis.
  • Direct cell contact mechanisms, like junctions, are key regulators of osteoblast activity.