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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow
Published on: November 6, 2014
Effect of estrogen on the activity and growth of human osteoclasts in vitro
Fang-Ping Chen1, Kun-Chuang Wang, Jing-Duan Huang
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan. fangping@cgmh.org.tw
Objective:
Estrogen deficiency results in postmenopausal osteoporosis by increasing the rate of bone loss. The mechanism responsible for the effects of estrogen on osteoclasts is still unclear.
Materials And Methods:
The potential of mononuclear cells from cord blood or bone marrow to differentiate into mature osteoclasts when co-cultured with human osteoblast cells was investigated. The effects of estrogen on osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activity were also examined.
Results:
Macrophage markers CD11b and CD14 were downregulated and vitronectin receptor was upregulated during 28 days' co-culture of mononuclear cells and human osteoblasts. Long-term co-culture resulted in the formation of numerous large tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated cells capable of resorption of bone slices. After incubation for 28 days, the addition of 17beta-estradiol caused a significant decrease in the expression of vitronectin receptor and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated cells in cultures derived from both bone marrow and cord blood. A significant decrease in bone resorption was also noted in the presence of estrogen.
Conclusion:
Estrogen not only suppresses osteoclastogenesis but also inhibits the activity of osteoclasts.
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