Osteoclast heterogeneity: lessons from osteopetrosis and inflammatory conditions

The multinucleated osteoclast has a unique function: degradation of mineralized tissues. It is generally taken that all osteoclasts are alike, independent of the skeletal site where they exert their activity. Recent data, however, question this view as they show that osteoclasts at different bony sites appear to differ, for example in the machinery responsible for resorption. Support for the notion that there may be heterogeneity in osteoclasts is obtained from studies in which osteoclast activity is inhibited and from observations in osteopetrosis and inflammatory bone conditions. In this review we discuss the available evidence and propose the existence of bone-site-specific osteoclast heterogeneity.