Bone Growth and Remodeling

The skeletal system provides a structural framework for the body, facilitating movement and protecting internal organs, as well as serving as a reservoir for inorganic salts and cells of the immune system. Many cell types and signaling pathways impact bone growth and remodeling: chondrocytes and osteoblasts derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, osteoclasts of hematopoietic origins, and hormones and other neuromodulators that help regulate the balance of osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption. The dynamic processes of bone deposition and resorption continuously remodel bones, and this balance is crucial for maintenance of bone size, shape, and integrity. Disruptions of bone homeostasis accompany disorders that include osteoporosis, arthritis, and many heritable skeletal diseases.

R&D Systems offers an array of tools for the study of skeletal biology including proteins, antibodies, and ELISAs, along with kits for cell selection and apoptosis.