Overview of RAW264.7 for osteoclastogensis study: Phenotype and stimuli

Abstract

Bone homeostasis is preserved by the balance of maintaining between the activity of osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis. However, investigations for the osteoclastogenesis were hampered by considerable difficulties associated with isolating and culturing osteoclast in vivo. As the alternative, stimuli-induced osteoclasts formation from RAW264.7 cells (RAW-OCs) have gain its importance for extensively osteoclastogenic study of bone diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, osteolysis and periodontitis. However, considering the RAW-OCs have not yet been well-characterized and RAW264.7 cells are polymorphic because of a diverse phenotype of the individual cells comprising this cell linage, and different fate associated with various stimuli contributions. Thus, in present study, we provide an overview for current knowledge of the phenotype of RAW264.7 cells, as well as the current understanding of the complicated interactions between various stimuli and RAW-OCs in the light of the recent progress.

Keywords: LPS; RANKL; RAW264.7; TNF-a; bone marrow macrophage; osteoclast; phenotype.

Figure 1

Schematic of macrophage phenotype. (A) Phenotype of M0 macrophage. (B) Phenotype of M1 macrophage. (C) Phenotype of M2 macrophage. (D) Phenotype of three panels of RAW264.7 cell linage. (E) Phenotype of bone marrow macrophages

Figure 2

Schematic of RANKL, LPS and TNF‐a signalling for RAW‐OCs

Figure 3

Small and big RAW‐OCs. (A) Small RAW‐OCs with the average 3‐5 nucleus. (B) Big RAW‐OCs with average nuclei number > 10. (C) Box magnified. (Red and white arrows for TRAP staining and F‐actin nuclei respectively)