The osteocyte

Knothe Tate, Melissa L.<sup>1,2,3</sup>; Adamson, Josée R.<sup>1,4</sup>; Tami, Andrea E.<sup>1,2,3</sup>; Bauer, Thomas W.<sup>1,3,5</sup>

Affiliations

¹Orthopaedic Research Center, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA

²Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute, 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44195, USA

³Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA

²National Center for Microgravity Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA

³Department of Anatomic Pathology, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA

Abstract and keywords

Osteocytes are the most numerous cells in mature bone and have the potential to live as long as the organism itself. However, study and subsequent understanding of osteocyte biology has been thwarted by the remote location of the cell in the mineralized matrix. This review is intended to synthesize current understanding of osteocyte biology and to suggest future paths that will promote understanding of this obscure cell and translation of knowledge to disease prophylaxis and management.

Keywords: Bone; Mechanotransduction; Pathoanatomy; Fluid flow; Osteoporosis

Links

DOI: 10.1016/S1357-2725(03)00241-3

PubMed: 14592527

WoS: 000186571700001

History

Received: 2003-03-04

Revised: 2003-05-29

Accepted: 2003-06-05

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