Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

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...

Bone Remodeling

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.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Safety and efficacy of active blood-pressure reduction to the recommended thresholds for intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischaemic stroke in the Netherlands (TRUTH): a prospective, observational, cluster-based, parallel-group study.

The Lancet. Neurology·2024

Same author

Routine transthoracic echocardiography in ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack of undetermined cause: a prospective multicentre study.

Netherlands heart journal : monthly journal of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology and the Netherlands Heart Foundation·2023

Same author

Perceived usefulness of trauma audit filters in urban India: a mixed-methods multicentre Delphi study comparing filters from the WHO and low and middle-income countries.

BMJ open·2022

Same author

Evaluation of Performance of Detection of Immunoglobulin G and Immunoglobulin M Antibody Against Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 by a Rapid Kit in a Real-Life Hospital Setting.

Frontiers in microbiology·2022

Same author

Nanotechnology-enabled immunoengineering approaches to advance therapeutic applications.

Nano convergence·2022

Same author

Evaluation of Telemedicine Use for Anesthesiology Pain Division: Retrospective, Observational Case Series Study.

JMIR perioperative medicine·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Propagation of Dental and Respiratory Cells and Organs in Microgravity

Propagation of Dental and Respiratory Cells and Organs in Microgravity

Published on: May 25, 2021

Osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation in modeled microgravity.

Ritu Saxena¹, George Pan, Jay M McDonald

¹Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. ritus@uab.edu

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

|July 28, 2007

Summary

Modeled microgravity inhibits bone-forming osteoblast differentiation and promotes fat cell development. It also stimulates bone-resorbing osteoclast formation, impacting bone density in space.

More Related Videos

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow

Published on: November 6, 2014

Using Inducible Osteoblastic Lineage-Specific Stat3 Knockout Mice to Study Alveolar Bone Remodeling During Orthodontic Tooth Movement

Using Inducible Osteoblastic Lineage-Specific Stat3 Knockout Mice to Study Alveolar Bone Remodeling During Orthodontic Tooth Movement

Published on: July 21, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Propagation of Dental and Respiratory Cells and Organs in Microgravity

Propagation of Dental and Respiratory Cells and Organs in Microgravity

Published on: May 25, 2021

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow

Published on: November 6, 2014

Using Inducible Osteoblastic Lineage-Specific Stat3 Knockout Mice to Study Alveolar Bone Remodeling During Orthodontic Tooth Movement

Using Inducible Osteoblastic Lineage-Specific Stat3 Knockout Mice to Study Alveolar Bone Remodeling During Orthodontic Tooth Movement

Published on: July 21, 2023

Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Cell Biology
Space Medicine

Background:

Astronauts experience bone mineral density loss due to prolonged microgravity exposure.
Understanding cellular mechanisms underlying bone loss is crucial for astronaut health.
Osteoblasts and osteoclasts are key cells in bone remodeling, with their balance critical for bone health.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of simulated microgravity on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation.
To elucidate the molecular pathways involved in microgravity-induced changes in bone cells.
To identify potential targets for mitigating bone loss in space.

Main Methods:

Utilized the Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS), a NASA-recommended ground-based microgravity simulator.
Cultured human mesenchymal stem cells under osteogenic conditions to study osteoblastogenesis and adipogenesis.
Analyzed cellular signaling pathways including RhoA activity, cofilin phosphorylation, F-actin stress fibers, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling.

Main Results:

Modeled microgravity (MMG) significantly inhibited osteoblast differentiation and promoted adipocyte differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells.
MMG led to reduced RhoA activity, decreased cofilin phosphorylation, and disrupted F-actin stress fibers.
MMG also stimulated osteoclastogenesis, indicating a shift towards bone resorption.
Integrin signaling through focal adhesion kinase was impaired under MMG conditions.

Conclusions:

Simulated microgravity profoundly alters bone cell differentiation, favoring bone loss.
Molecular changes involving cytoskeletal dynamics and cell adhesion are implicated in microgravity's effects.
The RCCS provides a valuable platform for developing therapeutic strategies against spaceflight-induced bone loss.