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. 2012 Apr 18;1:59. doi: 10.1038/bonekey.2012.59

Figure 1. Osteoclast precursor development and differentiation.

Figure 1

Hematopoietic stem cells give rise to lymphoid and myeloid committed precursors. Myeloid precursors generate MDPs. MDPs give rise to monocytes, macrophages and common DC precursor (CDP). Monocytes (Ly-6C−) stimulated by M-CSF mature into macrophages, but addition of RANKL drives monocytes into osteoclast commitment. Earlier stage Ly-6C+ monocytes, termed myeloid blasts, show strong osteoclast commitment potential when stimulated with M-CSF and RANKL but still retain the ability to become monocytes (Ly-6C−). Macrophages stimulated with M-CSF and RANKL can fuse to form osteoclasts. CDPs differentiate into immature DCs under stimulation with Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L) and become mature conventional DCs with the addition of GM-CSF and TNFα. Before GM-CSF stimulation, immature DC can trans-differentiate into an osteoclast under the influence of M-CSF and RANKL.