Osteoimmunology and osteonecrosis of the femoral head

[摘要] Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH)is a refractory disease, which often leads tocollapse of the femoral head.1,2 Each year,approximately 22,000 new cases occur inthe USA and 75,000 to 150,000 in China.3There is no consensus on the pathogenesisof ONFH, despite many studies on the topic.Increasing evidence points to inflammatoryosteoimmunology playing an indispensablerole in the pathogenesis of ONFH.4-8While immune cells such as macrophagesare important for resolving inflammationand promote subsequent tissue repair, theyalso contribute to ONFH, suggesting that thedisease arises as a result of immune systemdysfunction.5,8 Bone biology and immunology have recently been combined in thefield of osteoimmunology to become animportant focus of ONFH research.9 We willsummarize the current understanding of theosteoimmunology of ONFH, focusing onthe important roles of macrophages, T andB cells, and neutrophils, as well as relatedsignalling molecules.

[学科分类] 骨科学

[关键词] Osteoimmunology;Osteonecrosis of the femoral head.;Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH);macrophages;femoral heads;inflammation;pathogenesis;inflammatory cytokines;bone remodelling;interleukins;osteoclasts;transforming growth factor beta