Stimuli and Relevant Signaling Cascades for NFATc1 in Bone Cell Homeostasis: Friend or Foe?

Bone homeostasis is strictly regulated by balanced activity of bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts.Disruption of the balance of activity between osteoblasts and osteoclasts leads to various metabolic bone diseases. Osteoclasts are cells of hematopoietic origin that they are large, multinucleated cells formed by the fusion of precursor cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage, they are unique cells that degrade the bone matrix, activation of transcription factors nuclear factoractivated T cells c1 (NFATc1) is required for sufficient osteoclast differentiation and it plays the role of a master transcription regulator of osteoclast differentiation, meanwhile, NFATc1 could be employed to elicit anabolic effects on bone. In this review, we have summarized the various mechanisms that control NFATc1 regulation during osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation as well as a new strategy for promoting bone regeneration in osteopenic disease.