Estrogen deficiency increases osteoclastogenesis up-regulating T cells activity: A key mechanism in osteoporosis

Our findings suggest that estrogen deficiency stimulates OC formation both by increasing the production of TNFα and RANKL and increasing the number of OC precursors. Women with post-menopausal osteoporosis have a higher T cell activity than healthy post-menopausal subjects; T cells thus contribute to the bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency in humans as they do in the mouse.