title: Regulation of bone by the adaptive immune system in arthritis.
abstract: Studies on the immune regulation of osteoclasts in rheumatoid arthritis have promoted the new research field of 'osteoimmunology', which investigates the interplay between the skeletal and immune systems at the molecular level. Accumulating evidence lends support to the theory that bone destruction associated with rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the enhanced activity of osteoclasts, resulting from the activation of a unique helper T cell subset, 'Th17 cells'. Understanding the interaction between osteoclasts and the adaptive immune system in rheumatoid arthritis and the molecular mechanisms of Th17 development will lead to the development of potentially effective therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima 1-5-45, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takayanagi
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism