ABSTRACT
Bone is a complex tissue in which resorption and formation continue throughout life. The bone tissue contains various types of cells, of which the bone forming osteoblasts and bone resorbing osteoclasts are mainly responsible for bone remodeling. Periodontal disease represents example of abnormal bone remodeling. Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells present only in bone. It is believed that osteoclast progenitors are hematopoietic origin, and they are recruited from hematopoietic tissues such as bone marrow and circulating blood to bone. Cells present in the osteoclast microenvironment include marrow stromal cells, osteoblasts, macrophages, T-lymphocytes, and marrow cells. These cells produce cytokines that can affect osteoclast formation. In vitro model systems using bone marrow cultures have demonstrated that IL-1 beta, IL-3, TNF-alpha, bFGF can stimulate the formation of osteoclasts. In contrast, IL-4 inhibits osteoclast formation. Knowledge of cytokines and bFGF that affect osteoclast formation and their capacity to modulate the bone-resorbing process should provide critical insights into normal calcium homeostasis and disorders of bone turnover such as periodontal disease, osteoporosis and Paget's disease.