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Osteoblasts and Osteocytes: Essentials and Methods

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Principles of Bone and Joint Research

Part of the book series: Learning Materials in Biosciences ((LMB))

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Abstract

This chapter discusses the development of the bone-forming cells that are all descendants from the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs have the ability to self-renew and provide a pool for osteoprogenitors. However, MSCs can also differentiate into cells of the mesodermal cell line, which besides the bone-forming cells include chondroblasts, adipocytes, and muscle cells. Hormones, local factors, and the extracellular matrix program the MSCs into the distinct differentiation pathways. Especially, the inverse relationship between osteogenesis and adipogenesis plays a pivotal role for bone formation and maintenance of the bone. During differentiation of the osteoblastic lineage, cells pass distinct states with distinct roles in the bone-forming process, i.e., matrix synthesis and mineralization as well as regulation of bone remodeling which appears to be mainly directed by osteocytes. Moreover, osteocytes have important endocrine functions as they secrete factors into circulation that regulate other organs of the body.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to Univ. Prof. Dr. Klaus Klaushofer, Director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology, for the continuous support and many discussions about bone biology and its relevance for the clinic.

The work was supported by the AUVA (Research funds of the Austrian workers compensation board) and by the WGKK (Viennese sickness insurance funds).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at the Hanusch Hospital of WGKK and AUVA Trauma Centre Meidling, 1st Medical Department Hanusch Hospital, Hanusch Hospital, 1140, Vienna, Austria

    Nadja Fratzl-Zelman & Franz Varga

Authors
  1. Nadja Fratzl-Zelman
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  2. Franz Varga
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nadja Fratzl-Zelman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Peter Pietschmann

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Fratzl-Zelman, N., Varga, F. (2017). Osteoblasts and Osteocytes: Essentials and Methods. In: Pietschmann, P. (eds) Principles of Bone and Joint Research. Learning Materials in Biosciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58955-8_2

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