Editorial: New perspectives on osteoclasts in health and disease

Summary: Different types of multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage have been observed in pathological conditions, but their precise roles and formation mechanisms remain poorly understood due to their heterogeneity. This review highlights the known molecular actors in the early stages of fusion, particularly focusing on cell-surface receptors involved in cell-to-cell adhesion steps leading to multinucleation. Additionally, the evolution of F-actin-based structures, such as podosomes, zipper-like structures, and tunneling nanotubes (TNT), that are involved in macrophage fusion, is discussed.