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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Bone Miner Res. 2012 Mar;27(3):499–505. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.1547

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Model depicting mechanisms by which osteocytes may independently control bone resorption and bone formation. Osteoclasts (OCs) and osteoblasts (OBs) within a cancellous BMU are shown as being derived from precursors (pOC and pOB). Osteocytes alter the rate of bone remodeling by controlling osteoclast formation via production of RANKL. On the other hand, osteocytes also control the balance between formation and resorption by regulating osteoblast formation via production of sclerostin. Sclerostin may have additional actions such as stimulation of RANKL expression by osteocytes.