Title:Inflammation-Associated Changes in Bone Homeostasis
VOLUME: 11 ISSUE: 3
Author(s):Carina Scholtysek, Gerhard Kronke and Georg Schett
Affiliation:Department of Internal Medicine 3, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Keywords:Arthritis, autoimmune disease, bone, immune activation, inflammation
Abstract:Bone is a dynamic tissue undergoing constant remodelling and repair. Its homeostasis is regulated by a
coordinated process executed by bone forming and bone resorbing cells. Apart from being a major component of the
locomotive system, bone provides protection for internal organs and represents a main mineral storage. Furthermore, it
houses the haematopoietic system and is hence essential for the body’s immune response. In turn, the innate and adaptive
immune system itself, critically affect bone homeostasis. This is most evident during chronic inflammatory diseases, such
as Rheumatoid Arthritis, where bone mass is critically reduced. Recently the field of osteoimmunology, focusing on this
crosstalk between the immune system and bone homeostasis, has gained increasing attention. This review will highlight
cellular and molecular mechanisms linking the innate and adaptive immune response to bone biology and provide an
overview about involved cytokines and cells. Moreover, chronic inflammation and its consequences for bone turnover are
discussed.
