Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (30): 6509-6519.doi: 10.12307/2025.951

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Interaction between immune microenvironment and bone aging and treatment strategies

Wang Jianxu1, Dong Zihao1, Huang Zishuai1, Li Siying2, Yang Guang1   

  1. 1Department of Joint Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China; 2Metabolism and Disease Research Center, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250013, Shandong Province, China
  • Received:2024-10-23 Accepted:2024-12-10 Online:2025-10-28 Published:2025-03-28
  • Contact: Yang Guang, Associate chief physician, Master’s supervisor, Department of Joint Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China
  • About author:Wang Jianxu, Master candidate, Department of Joint Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Bone microenvironment is also rich in various immune cells and cytokines, which are closely related to bone cells and form an interactive network. Therefore, bone aging is not only caused by the senescence of osteocytes, but also accelerated by age-related changes in the immune system.
OBJECTIVE: To review the age-related changes of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and immune cells in the bone microenvironment, emphasize the key role of the immune microenvironment in bone aging, and the potential of immunotherapy in the treatment of bone aging.
METHODS: We searched PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for articles on the interaction between bone cell senescence and immune cell senescence using “osteocytes, bone aging, immune microenvironment, immune cells, cytokines, immunosenescence, immunotherapy” as Chinese and English search terms. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 128 articles were finally included in the review. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Bone aging is a common pathological condition in the elderly, characterized by the interaction of multiple biological processes, among which immune factors play a key role. The cells, molecules, and signaling pathways in the immune microenvironment together constitute a complex network, and the imbalance of this network will accelerate the process of bone aging. The combination of anti-cellular aging and immunotherapy may bring new methods for the treatment of bone aging diseases, including the removal of senescent cells, targeted drugs for senescence-related secretory phenotypes, targeted therapy of inflammatory cytokines, immune cell regulation therapy, stem cell therapy, and molecular therapy. To more effectively and reasonably remove senescent cells, a deeper understanding of the mechanism of senescent cells is needed, which will help to identify senescent cells more accurately. Immunotherapy shows great potential and prospects in the treatment of bone aging, but there are some potential risks. It is believed that with the advancement of science and technology, people can more accurately understand the genetic information and immune status of the human body and develop more personalized immunotherapy plans.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程

Key words: osteocyte, bone aging, immune microenvironment, immune cell, cytokine, immunosenescence, immunotherapy, engineered tissue construction

CLC Number: