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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

A Simple Pit Assay Protocol to Visualize and Quantify Osteoclastic Resorption In Vitro
Published on: June 16, 2022
Vesicular trafficking in osteoclasts
1Bone & Musculoskeletal Programme, School of Medicine & Dentistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, UK. f.p.coxon@abdn.ac.uk
Abstract:
Bone-resorbing osteoclasts are highly dependent on vesicular trafficking pathways that are regulated by Rab GTPases. In particular, polarised transport of acidic vesicles of the endocytic/lysosomal pathway is required for formation of the ruffled border, the resorptive organelle of the osteoclast. The breakdown products of resorption are then transported through the osteoclast by transcytosis, enabling their excretion. In this review, we summarise these trafficking routes, highlight the emerging evidence that the bone disease osteopetrosis results from defects in vesicular trafficking in osteoclasts, and outline the similarities between the endocytic/lysosomal compartment in osteoclasts and secretory lysosomes in other cell types.
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