| [ Summary ] |
Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing multi-nuclear cells derived from hematopoietic stem cells or monocyte/macrophage lineage cells. Osteoclast multi-nucleation is provided by cell-cell fusion of mono-nuclear cells. However, the mechanisms of, or roles of cell-cell fusion in osteoclasts remain largely unclear. To date, various molecules have been reported as osteoclast cell-cell fusion molecules. Of these molecules, the dendritic cell specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP) has been demonstrated to be an essential molecule for osteoclast cell-cell fusion by generating DC-STAMP knockout mice. |