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Related Concept Videos

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

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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...
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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.
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Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
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Bone contains a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of collagen fibers that provide an adherent surface for inorganic salt crystals. Both components of the matrix, organic and inorganic, contribute to the unusual properties of bone. Without collagen, bones would be brittle and shatter easily. Without mineral crystals, bones would flex and provide little support. This can be observed by an experiment: when the minerals of a bone are dissolved by soaking the bone in...
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The minerals contained in all of the food we consume are essential for our organ systems. However, certain essential minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and fluoride, largely affect bone health.
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Updated: Nov 16, 2025

A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders
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Bone resorption goes green.

Jameel Iqbal1, Mone Zaidi2

  • 1Mount Sinai Bone Program, Center for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, Department of Medicine and of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Pathology, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10463, USA.

Cell
|February 26, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Giant bone-resorbing osteoclasts break down into smaller cells called osteomorphs. These osteomorphs then reassemble into new osteoclasts at different bone locations, challenging previous scientific understanding.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 16, 2025

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Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Bone biology
  • Osteoclast biology

Background:

  • Osteoclasts are crucial for bone remodeling and resorption.
  • The prevailing theory suggested osteoclasts undergo apoptosis after bone resorption.
  • Osteoclast differentiation was believed to originate exclusively from hematopoietic precursors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the fate of osteoclasts after bone resorption.
  • To challenge the established model of osteoclast lifespan and differentiation.
  • To explore alternative mechanisms of osteoclast behavior and bone remodeling.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo imaging techniques to observe osteoclast behavior.
  • Cellular tracking to monitor osteoclast dynamics.
  • Microscopy to analyze osteoclast morphology and function.

Main Results:

  • Osteoclasts do not undergo apoptosis but instead fragment into smaller cells called osteomorphs.
  • Osteomorphs are capable of migrating to new bone sites.
  • Osteomorphs can re-form into functional osteoclasts at distal locations.

Conclusions:

  • Osteoclasts exhibit a previously unrecognized life cycle involving fragmentation and reformation.
  • This discovery challenges the dogma of osteoclast differentiation and apoptosis.
  • The findings suggest a dynamic and adaptable role for osteoclasts in bone remodeling.