Bipotential differentiation activity of osteoclast precursor cells cultured in methylcellulose.

A cultured osteoclast visualized (A) with a fluorescence microscopy and (B) by TRAP staining. After 6 days of culture with M-CSF and sRANKL, c-Fms⁺RANK⁻ cells were incubated with fluorescence-labeled latex beads for 4 hours. After removal of the free latex beads, cells were cultured with M-CSF and sRANKL for 6 days. Note that precursor cells containing latex beads were able to differentiate into multinuclear osteoclasts that were positive for TRAP. The bar indicates 50 μm.