The oncostatin M-stromal cell axis in health and disease

The field of stromal immunology has risen to prominence in the last decade, fuelled by accumulating evidence that nonhaematopoietic mesenchymal cells are not simply involved in modulating tissue structure, but actively contribute to immune processes. In addition to regulating tissue integrity during homoeostasis, stromal cells are sensitive sensors of inflammatory stimuli produced downstream of tissue injury or infection, and respond by producing a wide variety of chemokines, cytokines and adhesion factors that contribute to immunity and tissue repair. When not appropriately regulated, these same processes can result in inflammatory pathology and organ dysfunction. In this review, we provide a brief overview of stromal immunology, followed by a comprehensive discussion of how the IL-6 family cytokine oncostatin M (OSM) coordinates stromal cell activity in diverse physiological and pathological contexts. We conclude by providing a perspective on the potential clinical value of the OSM-stromal cell axis and how this pathway might be exploited therapeutically.