Fig. 3

Escherichia coli promotes osteoclastogenesis. Precursors of osteoclasts were cocultured with E. coli in osteoclast medium. Shown are the morphologies (A) and the numbers of multinuclear (≥ 3) TRAP⁺ mature osteoclast cells (B), the amount of secreted TRAP 5b (C) and relative expression of the osteoclast marker genes (TRAP, CALCR, and CTSK) (D). Scale bars, 100 μm. Data are averages ± SD. Each experiment was repeated three times. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001. All P values were determined using one way ANOVA