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.

Author affiliations

1. Department of Cell Signaling, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima 1-5-45, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549; COE Program for Frontier Research on Molecular Destruction and Reconstruction of Tooth and Bone, Tokyo Medical and Dental University; and SORST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Honcho 4-1-8, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
   Email: taka.csi@tmd.ac.jp

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