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Immune changes in post-menopausal osteoporosis: the Immunos study

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Abstract

Summary

The phenotypic and functional characteristics of immune cells of osteoporotic women compared to healthy controls similar for age and estrogen level showed for the first time significant changes in several B lymphocytes populations in postmenopausal osteoporosis, related to bone mineral density (BMD) and fractures, and a significant lower basal secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) by CD4+.

Introduction

To investigate the interactions between bone and immune system, we studied the phenotypic and functional characteristics of immune cells of 26 postmenopausal women with osteoporotic (OP) fractures compared to 24 healthy controls.

Methods

We analyzed surface markers of peripheral B, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and cytokine secretion in supernatants of these cells cultured with or without stimulation. Body composition was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Results

The two groups were similar for age and estrogen level. OP women had a significantly lower body mass index, fat mass, and lean mass. The number of CD19+, CD19+/CD27+, CD19+/CD27+/CD5−/CD38+ and CD19+/CD27+/RANK+, CD4+/CD27+/CD45RA−/RANK+, and CD4+/CD27+/CD45RA−/CD28+ was lower in OP women and positively correlated to BMD. In OP women, under basal conditions, CD4+ secreted less IFN-γ and B lymphocytes more granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). GM-CSF was positively correlated to fracture rate and negatively to BMD.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that, regardless of age and estrogen status, postmenopausal OP is associated with immune changes, highlighting a possible role of IFN-γ in the pathophysiology of OP and reporting, for the first time, changes in several B lymphocyte populations. These alterations may reflect the frailty observed after fracture, providing new insight into the mechanisms of morbidity and mortality associated with OP fractures.

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Acknowledgment

We would like to thank the “Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique Regional du CHU de Nice,” the “Centre National de Recherche en Sciences,” Sanofi-Aventis “the alliance for bone health,” and Eli Lilly for their financial support. We would also like to thank Abdelilah Wakkach for providing technical training, Claudine Blin-Wakkach for her advice in the initial discussion, and Dr Brigitte Dunais for proofreading the manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service de Rhumatologie, CHU de Nice, Hôpital l’Archet, Route Saint Antoine de Ginestière, 06200, Nice, France

    V. Breuil, C. H. Roux, C. Albert-Sabonnadière & L. Euller-Ziegler

  2. GEPITOS, CNRS UMR6235; Faculté de Médecine, Université Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France

    V. Breuil & G. F. Carle

  3. Laboratoire d’Immunologie, CHU Nice, Hôpital l’Archet, Nice, France

    M. Ticchioni & A. Bernard

  4. INSERM UMR 576, Université Nice-Sophia, Antipolis, Nice, France

    M. Ticchioni, J. P. Breittmayer & A. Bernard

  5. Département d’Informatique Médicale, Faculté de Médecine, CHU de Nice, Nice, France

    J. Testa

  6. Laboratoire d’Immunologie, CHU Nice, Hôpital Saint Roch, Nice, France

    P. Ferrari

  7. Service d’infectiologie, CHU de Nice, Hôpital l’Archet, Nice, France

    J. Durant

  8. Service d’Orthopédie, CHU de Nice, Hôpital Saint Roch, Nice, France

    F. De Perreti

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  1. V. Breuil
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  2. M. Ticchioni
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  11. L. Euller-Ziegler
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Correspondence to V. Breuil.

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Breuil, V., Ticchioni, M., Testa, J. et al. Immune changes in post-menopausal osteoporosis: the Immunos study. Osteoporos Int 21, 805–814 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-009-1018-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-009-1018-7

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