OVERVIEW

Osteoclasts are large multinucleated cells that are responsible for bone degradation in all vertebrate animals. With age, increased osteoclast activity causes osteoporosis that can lead to debilitating fractures. Moreover, metastatic tumors that lodge and grow in bone cause and pain and fractures because of tumor-stimulated elevations in osteoclast activity. The rate at which bone is lost depends mostly on the number of osteoclasts present on bone. The balance of differentiation and death by apoptosis determines this. Below are described current research in our laboratory that is aimed at better understanding the molecular mechanisms by which osteoclasts differentiate and survive with the expectation that this knowledge will lead to more effective cures to prevent debilitating bone loss.