Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during bone...

Bone Remodeling

Bone Remodeling

Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.

Hormones and Bone Tissue

Hormones and Bone Tissue

The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones, which interact with the skeletal system. These hormones control bone growth, maintain bone once it is formed, and remodel it.
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...

Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis

Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis

Calcium is not only the most abundant mineral in bone but also the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium ions are needed for bone mineralization, tooth health, heart rate regulation and strength of contraction, blood coagulation, the contraction of smooth and skeletal muscle cells, and the regulation of nerve impulse conduction. The average calcium level in the blood is about 10 mg/dL. When the body cannot maintain this level, a person will experience hypo or hypercalcemia.

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...

Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health

Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health

The growth and maintenance of bone are regulated by a combination of nutritional factors, including vitamins, such as vitamin A, B12, C, D, and K.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation 4 deficiency impairs hepatic fatty acid synthesis and is associated with epigenomic alterations in chromatin accessibility.

Molecular metabolism·2026

Same author

Association of mandibular cortical erosion with chronic periodontitis, apical periodontitis, and tooth fracture in Japanese women aged 40 years and older: An artificial intelligence-based analysis.

Osteoporosis and sarcopenia·2026

Same author

Osteoblast-specific deletion of NF-κB p65 enhances trabecular bone formation and BMP-2-induced osteogenesis in mice.

Bone·2026

Same author

Beyond resorption: targeting osteoclast fusion and polarization to restore balanced bone remodeling.

Frontiers in pharmacology·2026

Same author

Oxygen-Refractory Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome Requiring Urgent Surgical Closure: A Dynamic Assessment.

JACC. Case reports·2026

Same author

Hyaluronan induces ERK activation with minimal transcriptomic changes in pancreatic α-cells.

Biochemistry and biophysics reports·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

A Simple Pit Assay Protocol to Visualize and Quantify Osteoclastic Resorption In Vitro

A Simple Pit Assay Protocol to Visualize and Quantify Osteoclastic Resorption In Vitro

Published on: June 16, 2022

Regulation of osteoclast function.

Ichiro Nakamura¹, Naoyuki Takahashi, Eijiro Jimi

¹Department of Rheumatology, Yugawara Kosei-Nenkin Hospital, 438 Miyakami, Yugawara, Ashigara-shimo, Kanagawa 259-0396, Japan. ichiclast@yugawara-hosp.com

Modern Rheumatology

|September 29, 2011

Summary

Osteoclast biology, crucial for bone health, involves complex molecular mechanisms. Recent advancements have significantly clarified how these multinucleated cells are activated and function in bone resorption.

More Related Videos

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow

Published on: November 6, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 29, 2026

A Simple Pit Assay Protocol to Visualize and Quantify Osteoclastic Resorption In Vitro

A Simple Pit Assay Protocol to Visualize and Quantify Osteoclastic Resorption In Vitro

Published on: June 16, 2022

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow

Published on: November 6, 2014

Area of Science:

Bone Biology
Cellular Differentiation
Molecular Mechanisms

Background:

Osteoclasts are essential multinucleated cells responsible for bone resorption.
Their differentiation and function were historically poorly understood.
Recent decades have seen significant advancements in studying osteoclast biology.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent progress in understanding osteoclast biology.
To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying osteoclast activation and function.

Main Methods:

Review of novel investigative approaches in osteoclast research.
Synthesis of current knowledge on molecular pathways.

Main Results:

Significant progress has been made in clarifying osteoclast differentiation.
Key molecular events governing osteoclast activation and function are increasingly understood.

Conclusions:

Recent research has greatly enhanced our understanding of osteoclast molecular mechanisms.
Further investigation continues to refine our knowledge of bone remodeling and mass regulation.