**The Role of Immune Reactivity in Bone Regeneration**

Christian H. Bucher, Hong Lei, Georg N. Duda, Hans-Dieter Volk and Katharina Schmidt-Bleek

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/62476

#### **Abstract**

Bone is a complex organ with the capacity to regenerate. Even with this healing potential, healing results in fractured bone are unsatisfactory in a considerable patient cohort even with a good treatment regimen. These delayed healing cases encourage further research into possible new treatment approaches. The recently developed field of osteoimmunol‐ ogy addressing the tight interconnectivity of the skeletal system and the immune system could be a promising opportunity in this regard. In this review, the complexity of bone and the bone healing process are highlighted with an emphasis on the early healing phase. Specific immune cell subsets are considered for their potential to enhance bone healing and thus to develop new treatment strategies for patients in need.

**Keywords:** Regeneration, Fracture, Immune system, Inflammatory reaction, Healing
