Hematopoietic Kits for Osteoclast Formation

With the recent isolation and identification of osteoclast progenitors and the isolation andpurification of osteoclast colony stimulating factor, new and exciting avenues of research can now beapproached. The development of chemically defined osteoclast hematopoietic reagents would be ofinestimable importance for gaining specific information concerning phenomena such as the proliferationof osteoclasts and the role which these cells play in the process of hematopoiesis, bone formation, andbone resorption. We will develop an osteoclast/hematopoieticre agents that will support in vitroosteoclasts colony formation. Culture of osteoclast requires the presence of ill-defined components.The research herein will be to develop osteoclast/hematopoietic reagents and the technology to avoidthe use of serum or any other ill-defined component. This reagent will fill the critical void to provideinvestigators who are working in this exciting area. They have preliminary data indicating thatosteoclast/hematopoietic reagents in combination with purified osteoclast colony stimulating factorssupported osteoclast colony formation. However, the reagent formulation needs to be further developedsince it did not support colony formation equivalent to serum containing reagents. This proposal willdevelop osteoclasts/hematopoietic kits and reagent medium for osteoclast proliferation that does notrequire the presence of serum. These reagents will be valuable in assessing the growth parameters ofosteoclast in both normal and diseased states. It also will be of value in assessing the cytokinesinvolved in these processes.