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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Isolation, Purification, and Differentiation of Osteoclast Precursors from Rat Bone Marrow
Published on: May 19, 2019
Unraveling the Mechanisms That Regulate Osteoclast Differentiation: A Review of Current Advances
Sai Zhang1, Meng Gao1, Shuzhe Song1
1Henan Key Laboratory of Environmental and Animal Product Safety, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease primarily caused by a decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption. Osteoclasts are a special class of terminally differentiated cells that play an important role in normal bone remodeling and bone loss in osteoporosis as well as in a variety of osteolytic diseases. Osteoclasts can be differentiated from monocyte-macrophage cells of the hematopoietic system; they are the key cells in bone resorption. Osteoclast formation and differentiation are regulated by various cytokines and transcription factors. In this review, we summarize recent advances in research on the regulation of osteoclast differentiation and function by factors such as M-CSF, RANKL, AP-1, NFATC1, MITF, and PU.1. Understanding these cytokines and transcription factors can not only help identify targets for osteoclast differentiation but also aid in intervening in the treatment of osteoclast-related diseases.
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