Cited by 433Bone Metabolism and DiseasesBone health and osteoporosis researchOsteomyelitis and Bone Disorders Research

Osteoclasts recycle via osteomorphs during RANKL-stimulated bone resorption

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McDonald, Michelle M., Khoo, Weng Hua, Ng, Pei Ying, Xiao, Ya, Zamerli, Jad, Thatcher, Peter, Kyaw, Wunna, Pathmanandavel, Karrnan +39 more·2021·Cell

Abstract

Osteoclasts are large multinucleated bone-resorbing cells formed by the fusion of monocyte/macrophage-derived precursors that are thought to undergo apoptosis once resorption is complete. Here, by intravital imaging, we reveal that RANKL-stimulated osteoclasts have an alternative cell fate in which they fission into daughter cells called osteomorphs. Inhibiting RANKL blocked this cellular recycling and resulted in osteomorph accumulation. Single-cell RNA sequencing showed that osteomorphs are transcriptionally distinct from osteoclasts and macrophages and express a number of non-canonical osteoclast genes that are associated with structural and functional bone phenotypes when deleted in mice. Furthermore, genetic variation in human orthologs of osteomorph genes causes monogenic skeletal disorders and associates with bone mineral density, a polygenetic skeletal trait. Thus, osteoclasts recycle via osteomorphs, a cell type involved in the regulation of bone resorption that may be targeted for the treatment of skeletal diseases.

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Authors
McDonald, M. M., Khoo, W. H., Ng, P. Y., Xiao, Y., Zamerli, J., Thatcher, P., Kyaw, W., Pathmanandavel, K., Grootveld, A. K., Moran, I., Butt, D., Nguyen, A., Corr, A., Warren, S., Biro, M., Butterfield, N. C., Guilfoyle, S. E., Komla-Ebri, D., Dack, M. R. G., Dewhurst, H. F., Logan, J. G., Li, Y., Mohanty, S. T., Byrne, N., Terry, R. L., Simic, M. K., Chai, R., Quinn, J. M. W., Youlten, S. E., Pettitt, J. A., Abi-Hanna, D., Jain, R., Weninger, W., Lundberg, M., Sun, S., Ebetino, F. H., Timpson, P., Lee, W. M., Baldock, P. A., Rogers, M. J., Brink, R., Williams, G. R., Bassett, J. H. D., Kemp, J. P., Pavlos, N. J., Croucher, P. I., & Phan, T. G.
Affiliations
  • Garvan Institute of Medical Research (AU)
  • The University of Western Australia (AU)
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • Australian National University (AU)
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
  • BioVinc (United States) (US)
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
Corresponding author
  • Croucher, Peter I.
  • Phan, Tri Giang
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-03
Volume
184
Issue
5
Pages
1330-1347.e13
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3133129058
Cited by
433
References
87
Citations by year
2026: 72 · 2025: 78 · 2024: 80 · 2023: 87 · 2022: 72 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 5
FWCI
21.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
erratum (2021-04-01)
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • UNSWorks (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • NHMRC
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bone Metabolism and Diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Osteomyelitis and Bone Disorders Research
Keywords
osteoclasts, bone resorption, RANKL, osteoclastogenesis, intravital imaging, single-cell RNA sequencing, bone mineral density
MeSH terms
Animals, Bone Resorption, Cell Fusion, Cells, Cultured, Humans, Macrophages, Osteochondrodysplasias, Osteoclasts, Signal Transduction, Apoptosis, Mice, RANK Ligand

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