Abstract
In the last two decades, numerous scientists have highlighted the interactions between bone and immune cells as well as their overlapping regulatory mechanisms. For example, osteoclasts, the bone-resorbing cells, are derived from the same myeloid precursor cells that give rise to macrophages and myeloid dendritic cells. On the other hand, osteoblasts, the bone-forming cells, regulate hematopoietic stem cell niches from which all blood and immune cells are derived. Furthermore, many of the soluble mediators of immune cells, including cytokines and growth factors, regulate the activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. This increased recognition of the complex interactions between the immune system and bone led to the development of the interdisciplinary osteoimmunology field. Research in this field has great potential to provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of several diseases affecting both the bone and immune systems, thus providing the molecular basis for novel therapeutic strategies. In these review, we reported the latest findings about the reciprocal regulation of bone and immune cells.
Highlights
Bone remodelling, a coordinated process between formation and degradation of bone, respectively managed by osteoblasts (OBs) and osteoclasts (OCs), ensures the bone homeostasis
Osteoclastogenesis is sustained by OBs, cells arising from the bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) which following the activation of different pathways and specific transcription factors, such as Cbfa1/Runx2, differentiate in mature cells producing bone matrix [2]
We have demonstrated that IL-7 promotes osteoclastogenesis by upregulating T and B cell-derived RANKL [17] and that the production of IL-7 is downregulated by estrogen
Summary
A coordinated process between formation and degradation of bone, respectively managed by osteoblasts (OBs) and osteoclasts (OCs), ensures the bone homeostasis. A number of other cytokines and growth factors are known either to substitute these two molecules inducing a noncanonical OC formation or to act indirectly on osteoclastogenesis promoting RANKL release from other cells [1]. OB activity can be regulated by OCs. In the attempt to understand the mechanisms regulating bone remodelling, it has been found that skeletal homeostasis is dynamically influenced by the immune system, and lymphocyte- or macrophage-derived cytokines are among the most potent mediators of osteoimmunological regulation [3, 4]. In this review we will describe osteoclastogenesis, osteoblastogenesis, and the role of immune system in regulating the activity of bone cells
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
