Osteoimmunology is a collaboration of two fields namely osteology and immunology. During inflammatory conditions like periodontitis, alveolar bone resorption takes place as a result of the release of certain immune-regulatory cytokines or mediators like receptor activator of nuclear factor κ B (RANK) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κ B ligand (RANKL) etc., that are present on bone cells namely osteoclasts and osteoblasts respectively. These cytokines play a pivotal role in the process of periodontal tissue breakdown. The interrelationship between bone cells and immune cells that take part in the progression of periodontal disease has unfolded this versatile interdisciplinary speciality called osteoimmunology that has provided a substructure to study the mechanisms that are involved in periodontal destruction. This review emphasizes on the foundation of osteoimmunology and its role in periodontics.
