Osteoclasts are multinucleated, bone-resorbing cells. However, they also digest cartilage during skeletal maintenance, development and in degradative conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and primary bone sarcoma. This study explores the mechanisms behind the osteoclast-cartilage interaction. Human osteoclasts differentiated on acellular human cartilage expressed osteoclast marker genes (e.g. CTSK, MMP9) and proteins (TRAP, VNR), visibly damaged the cartilage surface and released glycosaminoglycan in a contact-dependent manner. Direct co-culture with chondrocytes during differentiation increased large osteoclast formation (p
Journal article
Sci rep
22/11/2021
11
Cartilage, Cell Differentiation, Cells, Cultured, Chondrocytes, Coculture Techniques, Dentin, Humans, Joints, Matrix Metalloproteinase 8, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9, Matrix Metalloproteinases, Osteoclasts, Proteolysis