title: Advances in osteoimmunology: pathophysiologic concepts and treatment opportunities.
abstract: Osteoimmunology is an emerging research area that deals with the mutual interactions between bone and the immune system. Osteoclasts have long been the center of attention in osteoimmunological research due to their hematopoietic origin and strong activation through cytokines. However, also the osteoclast's opponent - the osteoblast - has recently sought the spotlight, and novel functions of its descendant - the osteocyte - have been unraveled. A considerable number of investigations carried out over the past decade have identified critical proteins with osteoimmune functions including the pro-osteoclastic cytokine receptor activator of NF-ĸB ligand and inhibitors of the pro-osteoblastic Wnt signaling pathway. These discoveries have also led to the development of targeted therapies to counteract not only inflammation-induced bone loss but also postmenopausal osteoporosis and osteoporosis associated with aging.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Bone Diseases, Department of Medicine III, Technical University, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rauner
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sipos
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiele
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pietschmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*