Can Osteocytes Revert to Osteoblasts?

These data indicate that preosteocytes/osteocytes can migrate out of bone and onto bone surfaces, dedifferentiating to osteoblasts. These data provide an in vivo correlate to our in vitro data.

Do osteocytes regenerate?

VII.

The remaining are converted to lining cells that cover quiescent bone surfaces or are entombed within the mineralized matrix as osteocytes (Fig. 3A). Both osteoclasts and osteoblasts die by apoptosis, or programmed cell death, a process common to several regenerating tissues (141).

Why do osteoblasts become osteocytes?

During osteogenesis, osteoblasts lay down osteoid and transform into osteocytes embedded in mineralized bone matrix. ... That is, cells that continue to produce matrix actively bury cells producing less or no new bone matrix (passive burial).