Abstract

Osteal Macrophages (OsteoMacs) are a special subtype of macrophage residing in bony tissues. Interesting findings from basic research have pointed to their vast and substantial roles in bone biology by demonstrating their key function in bone formation and remodeling. Osteoclasts have been traditionally viewed as the resident macrophages in the bone. In recent years, a large population of bone-resident macrophages has been identified in the periosteal and endosteal tissues. These macrophages are termed osteomacs, and comprise about one-sixth of all cells in the bone marrow. Despite these essential findings, much less information is available concerning their response to a variety of biomaterials used for bone regeneration with the majority of investigation primarily focused on their role during the foreign body reaction. With respect to biomaterials, it is well known that cells derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage are one of the first cell types in contact with implanted biomaterials.

Keywords: Osteal macrophages; Osteoclasts; Biomaterials; Bony tissue; Dental implants