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Osteoclast differentiation and function in aquaglyceroporin AQP9‐null mice
Author(s) -
Liu Yangjian,
Song Linhua,
Wang Yiding,
Rojek Aleksandra,
Nielsen Søren,
Agre Peter,
Carbrey Jennifer M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1042/bc20080083
Subject(s) - biology , function (biology) , osteoclast , microbiology and biotechnology
Background information . Osteoclasts are cells specialized for bone resorption and play important roles in bone growth and calcium homoeostasis. Differentiation of osteoclasts involves fusion of bone marrow macrophage mononuclear precursors in response to extracellular signals. A dramatic increase in osteoclast cell volume occurs during osteoclast biogenesis and is believed to be mediated by AQP9 (aquaporin 9), a membrane protein that can rapidly transport water and other small neutral solutes across cell membranes. Results . In the present study we report an increase in expression of AQP9 during differentiation of a mouse macrophage cell line into osteoclasts. Bone marrow macrophages from wild‐type and AQP9‐null mice differentiate into osteoclasts that have similar morphology, contain comparable numbers of nuclei, and digest synthetic bone to the same extent. Bones from wild‐type and AQP9‐null mice contain similar numbers of osteoclasts and have comparable density and structure as measured by X‐ray absorptiometry and microcomputed tomography. Conclusions . Our results confirm that AQP9 expression rises during osteoclast biogenesis, but indicate that AQP9 is not essential for osteoclast function or differentiation under normal physiological conditions.