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The role of T cells in osteoporosis, an update

Wen Zhao1, Yuying Liu, Catherine M Cahill

  • 1Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Aerospace General Hospital Beijing, China.

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology
|July 29, 2009
PubMed

Emerging evidence highlights the importance of the interplay between the bone and immune systems. That evidence bolsters a longstanding recognition that estrogen deficiency, infection, inflammation, and autoimmune disorders are associated with systemic and local bone loss. Yet, only recently has an understanding emerged that T lymphocytes and their products act as key regulators of osteoclast formation, life span, and activity. This review presents this understanding of the process of T lymphocytes and their products mediating osteoporosis and explores some of the most recent findings and hypotheses to explain their action in bone. A more complete appreciation of the interactions between immune and bone cells should lead to targeted therapeutic strategies for diseases that affect either or both systems.

Keywords:
OsteoporosisT cellschemokinecytokineosteoclastosteoclastogenesis

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