The bone is, in contrast to common belief, a highly dynamic organ that undergoes constant remodeling and regeneration. In general, bone remodeling is a crucial and complex process for many skeletal processes and for the conservation of a healthy skeletal structure with particular importance during bone growth, tooth eruption, and fraction healing but also for the upkeep of blood calcium levels. Next to the bone cells- osteoclasts for bone resorption, osteoblasts for bone secretion and osteocytes as sensors for chemical and mechanical modifications- a plethora of other signals and cells such as those of the immune system or hormones are also involved in these processes.
In a healthy organism, bone formation follows bone resorption and vice versa in an equal degree, but whenever this tightly and balanced system is disrupted, it results in the manifestation of bone disease or defects.
In recent years, the interaction of the immune- and the skeletal system has been looked into in more detail. Here, it becomes increasingly clear that there is a codependence between the immune system and the skeletal system. Bone tissue for example provides developmental niches for hematopoietic stem cells while activated immune cells are involved in healthy bone metabolism, but also in pathological situations, where they can actively contribute to bone loss, as it is seen e.g. in rheumatoid arthritis. Especially in the context of inflammatory (autoimmune) diseases that show a complex immunopathology, which often also affects the joints, bone cells are closely interacting with immune cells, cartilaginous tissue and cells of the synovial membrane. Further, there is a number of surface receptors, cytokines and signaling pathways that are involved in the bone metabolism as well as in the immune system.
In this very complex system, many of the underlying mechanisms are yet to be discovered and it is not surprising that the bone reacts in many ways to external and internal stimuli. Some of these factors are, amongst others, sex, age, inflammatory status, the microenvironment, ionizing radiation, gravitation, or medication.
As all of these aspects are very broadly diversified, it is clear that the skeletal system relies heavily on the precise interplay of the above-mentioned factors as well as the micromilieu, the surrounding tissues, and the immune system. Disruption of this delicate system can lead to unwanted effects (e.g. bone loss and fractures after radiotherapy in cancer disease). Understanding these observations and elucidating the mechanisms behind it can therefore aide in preventing unwanted side effects or can be utilized in the form of targeted therapies in bone diseases.
In this Research Topic, we thus aim to bring together complementary articles that will help to understand the manifold of osteoarticular-immunological mechanisms in response to disease and therapy. Submissions of Original Research and Reviews, as well as Perspective and Opinion articles focusing on the interplay of the bone with the immune system and the surrounding tissue that primarily cover the following topics are welcome:
• Contribution of inflammation to bone metabolism
• Osteoimmunological differences in health and disease
• Influences of external factors (e.g. radiation, gravity, medication) on bone, joints, and immune system
• Modulation of the bone through the immune system
• Mechanisms of bone disease
• Influence of the sex on bone metabolism
• Interplay of immune cells and the skeletal system
• The role of the microenvironment in bone loss and bone build-up
• Role of immunoglobulins in bone metabolism
• Interaction of bone cells with the surrounding tissue
• Osteoarticular mechanisms and infections
• Osteoimmunology of the joint
Dr. Tomcik receives research funding from Arxx Therapeutics. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests.
The bone is, in contrast to common belief, a highly dynamic organ that undergoes constant remodeling and regeneration. In general, bone remodeling is a crucial and complex process for many skeletal processes and for the conservation of a healthy skeletal structure with particular importance during bone growth, tooth eruption, and fraction healing but also for the upkeep of blood calcium levels. Next to the bone cells- osteoclasts for bone resorption, osteoblasts for bone secretion and osteocytes as sensors for chemical and mechanical modifications- a plethora of other signals and cells such as those of the immune system or hormones are also involved in these processes.
In a healthy organism, bone formation follows bone resorption and vice versa in an equal degree, but whenever this tightly and balanced system is disrupted, it results in the manifestation of bone disease or defects.
In recent years, the interaction of the immune- and the skeletal system has been looked into in more detail. Here, it becomes increasingly clear that there is a codependence between the immune system and the skeletal system. Bone tissue for example provides developmental niches for hematopoietic stem cells while activated immune cells are involved in healthy bone metabolism, but also in pathological situations, where they can actively contribute to bone loss, as it is seen e.g. in rheumatoid arthritis. Especially in the context of inflammatory (autoimmune) diseases that show a complex immunopathology, which often also affects the joints, bone cells are closely interacting with immune cells, cartilaginous tissue and cells of the synovial membrane. Further, there is a number of surface receptors, cytokines and signaling pathways that are involved in the bone metabolism as well as in the immune system.
In this very complex system, many of the underlying mechanisms are yet to be discovered and it is not surprising that the bone reacts in many ways to external and internal stimuli. Some of these factors are, amongst others, sex, age, inflammatory status, the microenvironment, ionizing radiation, gravitation, or medication.
As all of these aspects are very broadly diversified, it is clear that the skeletal system relies heavily on the precise interplay of the above-mentioned factors as well as the micromilieu, the surrounding tissues, and the immune system. Disruption of this delicate system can lead to unwanted effects (e.g. bone loss and fractures after radiotherapy in cancer disease). Understanding these observations and elucidating the mechanisms behind it can therefore aide in preventing unwanted side effects or can be utilized in the form of targeted therapies in bone diseases.
In this Research Topic, we thus aim to bring together complementary articles that will help to understand the manifold of osteoarticular-immunological mechanisms in response to disease and therapy. Submissions of Original Research and Reviews, as well as Perspective and Opinion articles focusing on the interplay of the bone with the immune system and the surrounding tissue that primarily cover the following topics are welcome:
• Contribution of inflammation to bone metabolism
• Osteoimmunological differences in health and disease
• Influences of external factors (e.g. radiation, gravity, medication) on bone, joints, and immune system
• Modulation of the bone through the immune system
• Mechanisms of bone disease
• Influence of the sex on bone metabolism
• Interplay of immune cells and the skeletal system
• The role of the microenvironment in bone loss and bone build-up
• Role of immunoglobulins in bone metabolism
• Interaction of bone cells with the surrounding tissue
• Osteoarticular mechanisms and infections
• Osteoimmunology of the joint
Dr. Tomcik receives research funding from Arxx Therapeutics. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests.
