Effect of Anti-c-fms Antibody on Osteoclast Formation and Proliferation of Osteoclast Precursor In Vitro.

Bone remodeling is a complex process and it involves periods of deposition and resorption. Bone resorption is a process by which bone is broken down by osteoclasts in response to different stimuli. Osteoclast precursors differentiate into multinuclear osteoclasts in response to macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor Kappa-B ligand (RANKL). Under pathologic conditions, the cytokine profile is different and involves a mixture of inflammatory cytokines. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is one of the most important cytokines as it is found in large amounts in areas involved with inflammatory osteolysis. The purpose of this protocol is to provide a method by which murine bone marrow is isolated to generate osteoclasts through induction with M-CSF and either RANKL or TNF-α which will be subsequently inhibited by increasing doses of anti-c-fms antibody, the receptor for M-CSF. This experiment highlights the therapeutic value of anti-c-fms antibody in diseases of inflammatory bone resorption.