Interplay Between Skeletal and Hematopoietic Cells in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment in Homeostasis and Aging

In this review, we discuss the most recent scientific advances on the reciprocal regulatory interactions between the skeletal and hematopoietic stem cell niche, focusing on immunomodulation and its interplay with the cell’s mitochondrial function, and how this impacts osteoimmune health during aging and disease.

Osteoimmunology investigates interactions between cells that make up the skeletal stem cell niche and immune system. Much work has investigated the complexity of the bone marrow microenvironment with respect to the skeletal and hematopoietic stem cells that regulate skeletal formation and immune health respectively. It has now become clear that these cellular components cooperate to maintain homeostasis and that dysfunction in their interaction can lead to aging and disease.

Having a deeper, mechanistic appreciation for osteoimmune regulation will lead to better research perspective and therapeutics with the potential to improve the aging process, skeletal and hematologic regeneration, and disease targeting.