Cytokine production by peripheral blood cells in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

It has been suggested that the release of cytokines with bone-resorbing activity from cells of the immune system might have a role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. We measured the secretion of the bone-resorbing products tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1 beta and PGE2 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from seven healthy postmenopausal women and 12 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. No differences were observed between both groups either in unstimulated cultures or in cultures activated with calcitriol, endotoxin or phorbol esters. These results give no support for a role of peripheral blood immune cells in postmenopausal bone loss.