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Complement system in bone inflammation and autoimmunity

Adrita Guha1,2, Praneet Wahi1,2, Girdhari Lal1,2,3

  • 1BRIC-National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Ganeshkhind, Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India.

Journal of Leukocyte Biology
|August 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The complement system is vital for innate immunity and bone remodeling. Understanding its role in bone health and disease could lead to new therapies for inflammatory skeletal disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Bone Biology
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • The complement system is crucial for innate immunity and pathogen clearance.
  • Complement activation is intrinsically linked to bone remodeling and skeletal homeostasis.
  • Specific complement factors like C3a and C5a significantly influence bone remodeling cells (osteoclasts, osteoblasts, osteocytes).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the intricate relationship between the complement system and bone homeostasis.
  • To explore the role of complement in inflammatory skeletal diseases and bone degradation.
  • To evaluate the therapeutic potential and limitations of targeting the complement system for bone disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on complement system function in bone.
  • Analysis of research on complement's impact on osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and osteocytes.
  • Examination of therapeutic strategies targeting complement in skeletal disease models.

Main Results:

  • Elevated complement activation is a key factor in bone injury within inflammatory skeletal conditions.
  • Complement components C3a and C5a directly modulate bone remodeling cell activity.
  • Therapeutic interventions targeting the complement system show promise but have limitations.

Conclusions:

  • A thorough understanding of complement's role in bone remodeling is essential for developing novel treatments.
  • Targeting the complement system offers potential for preventing bone degradation in inflammatory diseases.
  • Further research is needed to optimize complement-targeted therapies for skeletal disorders.

Keywords:
osteoblastsosteoclastsosteoimmunologyosteoporosisperiodontitis

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