Homeostasis of skeletal tissues is maintained by a well-balanced regulation of bone formation and bone resorption (1;2). This process is called remodeling, in which osteoblasts are involved in the bone formation process and osteoclasts are essential for bone resorption. During the remodeling process, bone resorption by osteoclasts acts as a trigger to stimulate bone formation by osteoblasts, a ...

Osteoclasts play a critical role in both normal bone metabolism and bone resorption in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It has been reported that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit murine osteoclastogenesis in vitro and murine arthritis models in vivo, but not the destruction of joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In the current review article, we ...

Osteoclasts are the exclusive cells of bone resorption. Abnormally activating osteoclasts can lead to low bone mineral density, which will cause osteopenia, osteoporosis, and other bone disorders. To date, the mechanism of how osteoclast precursors differentiate into mature osteoclasts remains elusive. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are novel regulatory factors that play an important role in numerous cellu...

Osteoclasts are essential for bone dynamics and calcium homeostasis. The cells form a tight seal on the bone surface, onto which they secrete acid and proteases to resorb bone. The seal is associated with a ring of actin filaments. Cortactin, a c-Src substrate known to promote Arp2/3-mediated actin assembly in vitro, is expressed in osteoclasts and localizes to the sealing ring. To address the ...

To restore falling plasma calcium levels, PTH promotes calcium liberation from bone. PTH targets bone-forming cells, osteoblasts, to increase expression of the cytokine receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL), which then stimulates osteoclastic bone resorption. Intriguingly, whereas continuous administration of PTH decreases bone mass, intermittent PTH has an anabolic effect ...

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced signals play critical roles in osteoclast differentiation and function. SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, blocked osteoclast formation induced by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and prostaglandin E(2) in cocultures of mouse osteoblasts and bone marrow cells. Nevertheless, SB203580 showed no inhibitory effect on RANKL expressio...

BACKGROUND Bone and joint infection, mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, characterized by severe inflammation and progressive bone destruction. Studies mostly focused on the interaction between S. aureus and osteoblasts, the bone matrix-forming cells, while interactions between S. aureus and osteoclasts, the only cells known to be able...