Figure 1: Negative regulation of osteoclast differentiation by FcγRIII.

(a) Expression of FcγRs in the c-Fms⁺ osteoclast precursor population of BMMs (flow cytometric analysis). Representative data of six independent experiments are shown. (b) μCT of the proximal femur of 12-week-old female Fcgr3^+/− and Fcgr3^−/− mice (top left, axial view of the metaphyseal region; bottom left, longitudinal view). Representative data of nine mice are shown. Bone volume and degree of trabecular separation were determined with the μCT analysis (right, n=9). (c) Bone histomorphometric analysis of the tibiae of 12-week-old female Fcgr3^+/− and Fcgr3^−/− mice. Representative data of nine mice are shown. (d) The parameters for osteoclastic bone resorption, as determined by bone morphometric analysis (n=9). (e) In vitro differentiation of osteoclasts of Fcgr3^+/− and Fcgr3^−/− cells stimulated by RANKL and M-CSF. Data are representative of three independent experiments with triplicate culture wells. All data are shown as the mean±s.e.m. Statistical analyses were performed using unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test (*P<0.05; **P<0.01; n.s., not significant.).