Methods to fuse macrophages in vitro.
Macrophages are mononucleate cells that fuse in rare and specific instances to form osteoclasts in bone or giant cells in chronic inflammatory conditions. Because of the central role these cells play in bone metabolism and in inflammation, respectively, methods to study their formation in vitro are described.
Vignery
Agnès
A
Department of Orthopaedics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000166:cytology*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology