@article{oai:shinshu.repo.nii.ac.jp:00043945, author = {Nakamura, Hiroaki}, issue = {1}, journal = {Journal of Hard Tissue Biology}, month = {Apr}, note = {Bone plays a pivotal role in storing calcium and phosphate in vertebrates. This tissue is maintained by the balance of bone formation and bone resorption. Osteoblast-lineage cells, consisting of osteoblasts, osteocytes and bone lining cells, are engaged in bone formation. Bone resorption is mediated by osteoclasts. Recent research revealed that receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK)-RANK ligand (RANKL) mechanism is essential for the differentiating and activating osteoclasts. Osteoblast-lineage cells regulate bone resorption via the expression of RANKL and osteoprotegerin (OPG), a decoy receptor for RANKL. Additionally, osteoblast-lineage cells participate in degradation of bone matrix by secreting MMP-13. Thus, bone remodeling is achieved by the harmonized orchestration of osteoblast-lineage cells and osteoclast-lineage cells., application/pdf}, pages = {15--22}, title = {Morphology, Function, and Differentiation of Bone Cells}, volume = {16}, year = {2007} }