Bone Abstracts

Site-specific osteoclasts (OC) and OC-like cells from different pathologies exhibit heterogeneity e.g. in the resorption machinery, influence of anti-resorptive drugs and response to local or systemic hormones e.g. PTH. The explanation for this is not known but different precursors, local regulation through osteoblasts (OB), osteocytes and extracellular matrix (ECM) could be involved. To study these differences a simple and reproducible cell model is an advantage in pre-clinic...

Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) consists of two isoforms TRAP 5a and TRAP 5b suggested to exert different functions and clinical relevance. TRAP 5a is a 35 kDa monomer and a potential marker of inflammatory conditions e.g. atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. TRAP 5b, a heterodimer of 16 and 23 kDa generated by proteolytic cleavage of a repressive loop in TRAP 5a, is used as marker for osteoclast numbers/bone resorption and osteoclast-related pathological condi...