Abstract
The investigations from the aspect of “osteoimmunology”provided a recent advance on bone cell biology1). Various molecules identified to play a crucial role in immune system also play a role in bone system. For example, RANK-RANKL system was originally identified in dendritic cells and T cells2), but these molecules are both essential for osteoclast differentiation and skeletal development3,4). Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATc1) was also originally identified in T cells, but plays an essential role in osteoclast differentiation5). Thus bone and immune systems share common molecules. Here we introduce a seven transmembrane receptor protein, dendritic cell specific transmembarne protein (DC-STAMP) as an“osteoimmunology”molecule, which plays a role in both bone and immune systems.
