Studying Osteocyte Function Using the Cell Lines MLO-Y4 and MLO-A5

We describe the culture and use of MLO-Y4 cells in studies of gene expression, response to fluid flow, and dendrite growth. We also describe how to use the MLO-A5 cells as a model of osteoblast to osteocyte �differentiation and how to study their mineralization. These studies serve as a beginning point to study osteocyte functions and molecular mechanisms responsible for these functions.