Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (3): 701-710.doi: 10.12307/2026.013

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Immune microenvironment regulates bone regeneration

Yang Hu1, Zheng Yu2, Jia Chengming2, Wang Tong1, Zhang Guangfei1, Ji Yaoyao1    

  1. 1Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang 712000, Shaanxi Province, China; 2Shaanxi Provincial Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xi’an 710000, Shaanxi Province, China

  • Received:2024-12-02 Accepted:2025-02-06 Online:2026-01-28 Published:2025-07-07
  • Contact: Zheng Yu, MD, Associate chief physician, Master’s supervisor, Shaanxi Provincial Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xi’an 710000, Shaanxi Province, China Co-corresponding author: Jia Chengming, MS, Attending physician, Shaanxi Provincial Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xi’an 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
  • About author:Yang Hu, Master candidate, Attending physician, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang 712000, Shaanxi Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Shaanxi Province Natural Science Basic Research Youth Project, No. 2024JC-YBQN-0948 (to JCM) ; Shaanxi Provincial Administration of Chinese Medicine, No. 2019-GJ-JC011 (to ZY); Shaanxi Province Natural Science Basic Research Youth Project, No. 2019JQ-557 (to ZY)

Abstract: BACKGROUND:  The local immune microenvironment plays an important regulatory role in the process of bone formation, and the immune system is intricately linked to the skeletal system.
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the promotion of bone regeneration from three aspects: immune cell regulation of microenvironment, regulation of immune response by small extracellular vesicles, and induction of immune response by bone biomaterials, and to elucidate the immune regulatory mechanisms involved in bone regeneration.
METHODS: Relevant literature was retrieved from PubMed, CNKI, WanFang Database, and VIP Database, using the search terms of “osteoimmunology, immune microenvironment, small extracellular vesicles, bone regeneration, bone tissue repair, biomaterials, and tissue engineering” in English and Chinese. Repeat and irrelevant literature was screened and removed, and 92 articles that met the criteria were selected for intensive reading and review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Multiple immune cells and bone cells are in the same microenvironment, and immune cells can regulate the differentiation and activity of bone cells, collectively forming an immune microenvironment that affects bone regeneration. Neutrophils can significantly reduce local inflammatory responses in the early stages of bone injury, creating a favorable microenvironment for bone regeneration. M1 macrophages can clear foreign bodies and reduce early inflammatory responses, while M2 macrophages can promote the expression of osteogenic markers and factors, playing an important role in the repair process of bone injury. B cells and T cells can directly or indirectly affect the generation and activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, regulate bone metabolism, and promote bone regeneration. Extracellular vesicles of small cells regulate the local immune microenvironment through paracrine secretion, promoting bone formation and angiogenesis at the site of bone injury. The metal ions, surface hydrophilicity, porosity, pore size, surface morphology, and surface roughness on the surface of biomaterials can directly regulate local immune responses, and have anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and osteogenic effects, thereby accelerating bone regeneration.

Key words:  , immune microenvironment, bone regeneration, osteoimmunology, bone tissue engineering, macrophages, small extracellular vesicles, biomaterials

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