Mechanism of osteoclastic bone resorption: a new hypothesis

Osteoclastic bone resorption involves the solubilization of the mineral salts and the degradation of noncollagen bone matrix and collagen fibrils. As no recognizable collagen fibrils have ever been reported within cytoplasmic vacuoles in osteoclasts, it is generally assumed that the collagen fibrils are digested extracellularly in the resorption zone. The extent to which lysis occurs extracellularly and whether or not the osteoclasts phagocytose the degradation products remain to be established. In the present communication, a hypothesis is presented suggesting the possibility that osteoclastic resorption of bone involves the participation of two different cell types. According to this hypothesis, osteoclastic bone resorption is initiated by osteoclasts that demineralize areas of bone and degrade noncollagen bone matrix. After the osteoclasts have moved away or become partially detached from the demineralized site, the exposed collagen fibrils are phagocytosed by mononuclear, fibroblast-like or monocyte-derived cells.