Human osteoclast formation

Funded Activity Summary

There are a number of important medical conditions that are characterised by a loss of bone. These include osteoporosis, cancer-induced bone loss, and the bone loss that causes loosening of orthopaedic prostheses. Bone loss is understood to be due to an excess of bone resorption by osteoclasts in relation to bone formation. Understanding of the regulation of osteoclast formation and activity has increased greatly in the last few years, but important questions remain. In particular, more information is needed about the process of human osteoclast formation. We have devised a novel cell culture model of human osteoclast formation, in which osteoclast precursor cells mature into osteoclasts under the influence of human osteoblast cells. The importance of this model is that it allows us, for the first time, to investigate the role, and the potential relevance in human disease, of agents that positively and negatively affect osteoclasts. We intend also to use this model to study the way in which cancer cells in bone cause bone loss, as well as the involvement of cells of the immune system in osteoclast formation, in normal bone and in inflammatory conditions.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2003

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $326,036.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Cell Development (Incl. Cell Division And Apoptosis)

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

T cells and tumour cells | cancer-induced osteolysis | human osteoblasts as osteoclastogenic stroma | human osteoclast co-culture model | human osteoclasts and their progenitors | orthopaedic osteolysis | osteoporosis | pro-osteoclastogenic cytokines

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