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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow
Published on: November 6, 2014
[Comparison between MLO-Y4 osteocyte and osteoblast to support osteoclast formation in vitro]
Liang Cui1, Xiao-tong Li, Yan-qi Yang
1Department of Stomatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Objective:
To compare between MLO-Y4 osteocyte and osteoblast to support osteoclast formation in co-culture system.
Methods:
MLO-Y4 cells and murine osteoblast cells were co-cultured with bone marrow cells with or without vitamin D₃ presence.Bone marrow cells were as control group. Tartrat resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)+ giant cells with three or more nuclei were counted and compared under a microscope at day 9.
Results:
In the absence of vitamin D₃, (1963.3 ± 93.1)/plate osteoclasts were observed when MLO-Y4 cells co-cultured with bone marrow cells in 24-well plate.While only (12.7 ± 5.5)/plate osteoclasts were found in the osteoblast group, and (6.0 ± 1.0)/plate in control group. The statistical difference occurs for any two groups (P < 0.05). Vitamin D₃ could significantly increase osteoclast formation in the three groups.
Conclusions:
Osteocytes could induce osteoclastogenesis without the presence of vitamin D₃ and vitamin D₃ could enhance the induction effects of MLO-Y4 and osteoblast cells.
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