Effect of T cells on bone

Bone and immune systems mutually influence each other by sharing a variety of regulatory molecules and the tissue microenvironment. The interdisciplinary research field osteoimmunology has illuminated the complex and dynamic interactions between the two systems in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis as well as in the development of immune and skeletal disorders. T cells play a central role in the immune response by secreting various immune factors and stimulating other immune cells and structural cells such as fibroblasts and epithelial cells, thereby contributing to pathogen elimination and pathogenesis of immune diseases. The finding on regulation of osteoclastic bone resorption by activated CD4+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis was one of the driving forces for the development of osteoimmunology. With advances in research on helper T cell subsets and rare lymphoid cells such as gamma delta T cells in the immunology field, it is becoming clear that various types of T cells exert multiple effects on bone metabolism depending on immune context. Understanding the diverse effects of T cells on bone is essential for deciphering the osteoimmune regulatory network in various biological settings.

Automated summary

Bone and immune systems interact through shared regulatory molecules and tissue environment. Osteoimmunology investigates the complex interactions between the two systems in tissue homeostasis and disease development. T cells, especially CD4+ T cells, play a central role in immune response and can affect bone metabolism. Understanding the effects of different T cell subsets on bone is crucial for deciphering the osteoimmune regulatory network.