Section B Project B02

The impact of neutrophils and neutrophil-derived myeloperoxidase on osteoclasts and inflammatory bone loss

During inflammation, neutrophils form the first line of immune defense. They invade inflammatory sites and considerably impact the microenvironment. This process is prone to affect local differentiation and activation of osteoclasts and to trigger inflammatory bone loss. B02 addresses how neutrophils affect osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in experimental models of RA and PsA as well as translational human studies with special emphasis on the role of neutrophil-derived myeloperoxidase (MPO). The long-term goal of the project is to broaden the knowledge about neutrophil-osteoclast interactions to enable the manipulation of the system in the future to prevent inflammatory bone loss.