# BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF OSTEOCLASTS

> **NIH NIH R01** · SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $127,488

## Abstract

The removal of mineralized bone matrix as a component of skeletal modeling,
remodeling and fracture healing is the responsibility of large,
multinucleated giant cells termed osteoclasts.  Because osteiclasts occur
in low abundance in bone and cannot be grown in tissue culture, they are
poor candidates for many conventional experimental techniques.
Consequently, despite their indoubted importance in overall skeletal
function and calcium homeostasis, relatively little is known about their
essentials physiology and chemistry.  To help rectify these deficiencies
and to provide a new approach to exploring diseases involving osteoclast
dysfuncstion (e.g. osteopetrisis, Paget's Disease), we propose to do the
following:  (1) DEVELOP OSTEOCLAST SPECIFIC cDNA LIBRARIES using cDNA-mRNA
hybrid selection techniques and nucleotides derived from authetic
osteoclases, peripheral blood monocytes (less mature, mononuclear cells
belonging to the same cell family) and foreign body giant cells
(multinucleated cells phenotypically similar to osteiclasts); (2) employ
selected cDNA probes to (a) CHARACTERIZE THOSE mRNAs specific FOR OR
CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH OSTEOCLASTS AND (b) ASSESS CHANGES IN OSTEOCLAST
SPECIFIC/ASSSOCIATED mRNAs IN RESPONSE TO RESORPTION REGULATING EXOGENOUS
AGENTS (e.g., calcitonin, vitamin D3); (3) IDENTIFY AND CHARACTERIZE cDNA
CLONES CORRESPONDING TO EXTANT OSTEOCLAST and/or GIANT SPECIFIC MONOCLONAL
ANTIBODIES.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3158300
- **Project number:** 5R01AR037716-02
- **Recipient organization:** SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** JNBLLTBTLLD8
- **Principal Investigator:** ARNOLD KAHN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $127,488
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-02-01 → 1989-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3158300

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3158300, BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF OSTEOCLASTS (5R01AR037716-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3158300. Licensed CC0.

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