Endocrine Abstracts

Osteocytes differentiate from osteoblasts, are embedded in mineralised matrix and are critical regulators of bone remodelling. In vitro osteocyte models are currently limited to cell lines in monolayer, but these do not represent their 3D environment in vivo. We have recently shown that osteoblasts in 3D gels differentiate along the osteocytic pathway. Since retinoic acid (RA) has been shown to stimulate monolayer osteoblast/osteocyte differentiation, we have inv...

Osteocytes make up >90% of bone cells, are embedded in mineralised matrix where they form a communication network. Osteocytes differentiate from osteoblasts, and are thought to be mechano-sensitive. They are very difficult to isolate leading to a dependence on cell lines for in vitro studies of osteocyte biology. There is thus a need to develop new methods to study these cells. Recent publications indicate that osteoblasts maintained in in vitro 3D collagen g...