Review

Interaction between osteoblast and osteoclast: impact in bone disease

T.C.A. Phan, J. Xu and M.H. Zheng

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia

Offprint requests to: Professor Ming H. Zheng, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009 WA Australia. Fax: 61893463210. e-mail: zheng@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

Summary. The intercellular communication between osteoblasts and osteoclasts is crucial to bone homeostasis. Since Rodan and Martin proposed the control of osteoclasts by osteoblasts in the 1980s, many factors have been isolated from osteoblasts and shown to regulate the differentiation and function of osteoclasts. However, the mechanism by which osteoblasts regulate osteoclasts during bone remodelling is still unclear. On the other hand, it is well accepted that many metabolic bone diseases are associated with the disruption of the communication between osteoblast and osteoclasts. Thus, this review focuses on the cross-talk between osteoblasts and osteoclasts and its impact in bone disease. Histol Histopathol 19, 1325-1344 (2004)

Keywords: Osteoclast, Osteoblast, Bone disease, Osteoporosis, Interaction

DOI: 10.14670/HH-19.1325