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Bone and immune system - osteoimmunology

Publication at Central Library of Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen |
2020

Abstract

Bone is a multifunctional organ that responds to various exogenous and endogenous stimuli, such as calcium intake, mechanical stress, aging, tumors, infectious and autoimmune diseases. The basic functions of bone are mechanical, hematopoetic and the regulation of calcium-phosphate metabolism, and both endocrine and immune systems are interacting with them.

In the 1990s, the field of osteoimmunology was established, that because of joint interest in estrogens, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and interactions with the immune system, significantly cooperates with immunoendocrinology. Mechanisms of both adaptive (cells and antibodies) and innate immunity (cytokines) act on bone metabolism.

Under the physiological state, the adaptive immune system favorably regulates the development and quality of the skeleton. However, in immunopathological situations, such as autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency or inflammatory response to infectious diseases, bone metabolism is significantly affected and that may lead to severe bone damage (generalized or local osteoporosis).