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Lysozyme synthesis in osteoclasts
Author(s) -
Hilliard Thomas J.,
Meadows Gary,
Kahn Arnold J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of bone and mineral research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.882
H-Index - 241
eISSN - 1523-4681
pISSN - 0884-0431
DOI - 10.1002/jbmr.5650051205
Subject(s) - lysozyme , osteoclast , monocyte , macrophage , enzyme , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , bone marrow , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , immunology , gene
Osteoclasts may or may not be directly related to monocytes and macrophages, but it is well established that these cell types share a number of features in common. (1) In the present study we sought to extend this comparison by assessing lysozyme synthesis in osteoclasts, an enzyme known to be produced and secreted in large amounts by monocytes and macrophages. (2,3) Our data show that freshly isolated chicken osteoclasts and osteoclasts in situ contain an abundant amount of lysozyme and correspondingly high steady‐state levels of the enzyme's messenger RNA. Marrow macrophages, at various stages of in vitro maturation, also possess lysozyme mRNA but in amounts approximately two to four times lower than osteoclasts. These observations reaffirm the monocyte‐macrophage nature of the osteoclast but raise questions about the function of the lysozyme in this cell. At present, the role of the lysozyme in osteoclast activity remains unexplained.