From which cell lineage do osteoclasts arise?

From which cell lineage do osteoclasts arise?

• A. Monocytes
• B. Lymphocytes
• C. Neutrophils
• D. Erythrocytes

Answer: (A)

Osteoclasts come from the monocyte lineage, formed when monocyte precursors fuse on the bone surface to create large multinucleated cells that resorb bone. This differentiation is driven by signals like M-CSF, which promotes monocyte survival and differentiation, and RANKL, which triggers fusion and activation of osteoclasts. Lymphocytes come from the lymphoid lineage, neutrophils from the granulocyte lineage, and erythrocytes from the erythroid lineage, none of which fuse to become osteoclasts. So the correct lineage is monocytes.

Osteoclasts come from the monocyte lineage, formed when monocyte precursors fuse on the bone surface to create large multinucleated cells that resorb bone. This differentiation is driven by signals like M-CSF, which promotes monocyte survival and differentiation, and RANKL, which triggers fusion and activation of osteoclasts. Lymphocytes come from the lymphoid lineage, neutrophils from the granulocyte lineage, and erythrocytes from the erythroid lineage, none of which fuse to become osteoclasts. So the correct lineage is monocytes.