Osteoimmunology: shared mechanisms and crosstalk between the immune and bone systems

H Takayanagi - Nature Reviews Immunology, 2007 - nature.com
Nature Reviews Immunology, 2007nature.com
Osteoimmunology is an interdisciplinary research field focused on the molecular
understanding of the interplay between the immune and skeletal systems. Although
osteoimmunology started with the study of the immune regulation of osteoclasts, its scope
has been extended to encompass a wide range of molecular and cellular interactions,
including those between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, lymphocytes and osteoclasts, and
osteoblasts and haematopoietic cells. Therefore, the two systems should be understood to …
Abstract
Osteoimmunology is an interdisciplinary research field focused on the molecular understanding of the interplay between the immune and skeletal systems. Although osteoimmunology started with the study of the immune regulation of osteoclasts, its scope has been extended to encompass a wide range of molecular and cellular interactions, including those between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, lymphocytes and osteoclasts, and osteoblasts and haematopoietic cells. Therefore, the two systems should be understood to be integrated and operating in the context of the 'osteoimmune' system, a heuristic concept that provides not only a framework for obtaining new insights by basic research, but also a scientific basis for the discovery of novel treatments for diseases related to both systems.
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