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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
11:11
Isolation, Purification, and Differentiation of Osteoclast Precursors from Rat Bone Marrow
Published on: May 19, 2019
Relaxin stimulates osteoclast differentiation and activation
Alberto Ferlin1, Anastasia Pepe, Arianna Facciolli
1Section of Clinical Pathology and Center for Male Gamete Cryopreservation, Department of Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy.
Bone
|October 17, 2009
Summary
Relaxin hormone stimulates osteoclastogenesis, the formation of bone-resorbing cells, from hematopoietic precursors. This finding reveals relaxin
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Relaxin is a hormone with diverse functions, including a role in tumor biology and bone metastasis.
- Osteoclasts are key cells in bone resorption, particularly in osteolytic metastasis.
- The relaxin receptor, RXFP1, is expressed on human osteoclast precursors and mature osteoclasts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of relaxin on osteoclast differentiation, activation, and gene expression.
- To explore relaxin's role in osteoclastogenesis from human hematopoietic progenitor cells.
Main Methods:
- In vitro osteoclastogenesis using human hematopoietic progenitor cells.
- Quantitative RT-PCR to analyze gene expression profiles during osteoclastogenesis.
- Assessment of osteoclast differentiation markers and bone resorption activity.
Main Results:
- Relaxin alone induced a complete osteoclast differentiation process, comparable to established stimulators.
- Relaxin modulated the expression of genes crucial for osteoclast differentiation, survival, and activation.
- Relaxin-induced osteoclasts exhibited full differentiation, resorbed bone, and expressed RXFP1.
Conclusions:
- Relaxin is a potent stimulator of osteoclastogenesis from hematopoietic precursors.
- Relaxin regulates mature osteoclast activity, impacting bone physiology and disease.
- This study opens new avenues for understanding relaxin's role in bone-related conditions and metastasis.
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