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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

A Simple Pit Assay Protocol to Visualize and Quantify Osteoclastic Resorption In Vitro
Published on: June 16, 2022
Involvement of alpha(v)beta3 integrins in osteoclast function
Ichiro Nakamura1, Le T Duong, Sevgi B Rodan
1Department of Rheumatology, Yugawara Kosei-nenkin Hospital, 438 Miyakami, Yugawara, Ashigara-shimo, Kanagawa 259-0314, Japan. Ichiclast@yugawara-hosp.com
Abstract:
Integrins are heterodimeric adhesion receptors that mediate cell-matrix interaction. Osteoclast exhibits high expression of the alpha(v)beta(3) integrin, which binds to a variety of extracellular matrix proteins including vitronectin, osteopontin, and bone sialoprotein. Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing peptides, RGD-mimetics, and blocking antibodies to alpha(v)beta(3) integrin were shown to inhibit bone resorption in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that this integrin may play an important role in regulating osteoclast function. Several lines of evidence have demonstrated that a number of signaling molecules are involved in the alpha(v)beta(3) integrin-dependent signaling pathway, including c-Src, Pyk2, c-Cbl, and p130(Cas). In this article, we review the history of "alpha(v)beta(3) integrin and osteoclasts" and discuss the involvement of alpha(v)beta(3) integrins in osteoclast function at tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. A better understanding of the role of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin in osteoclastic bone resorption would provide opportunities for developing new therapeutics to treat human bone diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and periodontal disease.
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