Osteoclast recruitment in response to human bone matrix is age related

The effect of bone matrix age on the recruitment and differentiation of osteoclast precursors was studied using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) implant system. Devitalized mineralized bone particles (75-250 microns) were prepared from human femoral cortical bone obtained postmortem from 8 men (age range: 18-72 years). The particles were implanted onto the CAM and 8 days later implants were harvested and processed for light microscopic, morphometric or immunohistochemical analysis. Histomorphometric analysis was performed on samples representing each donor age. The analysis was grouped into three categories consisting of bone from young adults (18-20 years), adults (34-53 years) and aged individuals (67 years and older). Total osteoclast number, osteoclast number per bone particle, cell area, cell size, number of nuclei per cell profile, nucleocytoplasmic ratio, and the presence of a distinctive osteoclast antigen defined by monoclonal anti-body 121F were determined. Bone matrix from older individuals, and therefore the oldest age group (67 years and older), elicited significantly fewer multinucleated cells when compared to bone matrix from younger donors. The number of nuclei per cell profile was highest in the adult population (34-53 years), and there was a continuous increase in cell area with aging. As a consequence, the nucleocytoplasmic ratio decreased from the youngest to the oldest age group. These findings indicate that, relative to factors that affect the recruitment and differentiation of osteoclast precursor cells, bone matrix of older individuals is changed in quality and/or quantity compared to bone matrix from younger individuals. It is hypothesized that this decline in osteoclast formation in response to older bone matrix may contribute to the impaired bone remodeling associated with aging.