Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences on calcified tissues

ba0001pp246 | Cell biology: osteocytes | ECTS2013

Development of a novel 3D mineralising culture system to investigate the differentiation of osteoblasts to osteocytes

Scully Nicole E E , Evans Sam L , Mason Deborah J , Evans Bronwen A J

Osteocytes make up >90% of bone cells, are embedded in mineralised matrix where they form a communication network. Osteocytes differentiate from osteoblasts, and are mechano-sensitive. They are very difficult to isolate with a dependence on cell lines for in vitro studies of osteocyte biology. Therefore new methods to study these cells are essential. Recent publications indicate that osteoblasts maintained in in vitro 3D collagen gels may differentiate to...