Musculoskeletal Research Programme, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, UK.
J Endocrinol. 2011 Nov;211(2):131-43. doi: 10.1530/JOE-11-0212. Epub 2011 Sep 8.
Osteoclasts are the specialised cells that resorb bone matrix and are important both for the growth and shaping of bones throughout development as well as during the process of bone remodelling that occurs throughout life to maintain a healthy skeleton. Osteoclast formation, function and survival are tightly regulated by a network of signalling pathways, many of which have been identified through the study of rare monogenic diseases, knockout mouse models and animal strains carrying naturally occurring mutations in key molecules. In this review, we describe the processes of osteoclast formation, activation and function and discuss the major transcription factors and signalling pathways (including those that control the cytoskeletal rearrangements) that are important at each stage.
破骨细胞是专门吸收骨基质的细胞，它们在骨骼的生长和塑形过程中以及在整个生命周期中发生的骨重建过程中都非常重要，以维持健康的骨骼。破骨细胞的形成、功能和存活受到信号通路网络的严格调控，其中许多信号通路已经通过研究罕见的单基因疾病、基因敲除小鼠模型和携带关键分子自然突变的动物品系来确定。在这篇综述中，我们描述了破骨细胞的形成、激活和功能的过程，并讨论了在每个阶段都很重要的主要转录因子和信号通路（包括控制细胞骨架重排的信号通路）。
