Gnawing at the bone

The destructive ability of osteoclasts (OCs) to weaken bones is reduced by the interaction between an extracellular matrix (ECM) ligand and an adhesion receptor, according to results from Spessotto et al. on page 1133.

The correct balance between bone-destroying OCs and bone- generating osteoblasts maintains bone mass in adults. However, too much OC activity can cause diseases like osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. OCs are derived from hematopoietic precursors that leave the bloodstream and migrate toward the bone surface. Once they reach their destination, the precursors stop migrating and differentiate into OCs, which secrete cysteine proteases that chew up the bone.

Other proteases, namely matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), are thought to help mobilize OCs by degrading small pieces of the ECM. As such, Spessotto et al. were not surprised to find that reducing MMP-9 expression in OCs led...