Resorption of alveolar bone in periodontitis is due to excessive differentiation and activation of osteoclasts. Bacterial antigens causing periodontitis activates CD4 T cells, which leads to expressing RANK ligand (RANKL) on CD4 T cells. RANKL binds RANK on preosteoclasts or osteoclasts, and enhances the differentiation preosteoclasts into osteoclasts and the activation of mature osteoclasts. CD137, one of TNF receptor (TNFR) family, expressed on activated T cells binds with CD137 ligand (CD137L) on antigen presenting cells. Cross-linking of CD137 by CD137L acts as T cell co-stimulatory signals and, therefore, enhances the activation of T cell. In this study, I elucidated the biological responses of CD137L on (pre)osteoclasts and RANKL on T cells in the context of in vivo interaction between T cells and osteoclasts. RAW264.7, murine monocytic cells, constitutively express CD137L. Ligation of CD137L with anti-CD137L mAb inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast formation in a dosedependent manner. Bone marrow cells are expressed CD137L by the treatment with M-CSF. Cross-linking of CD137L abolished M-CSF/ RANKL-evoked the formation of multi-nucleated osteoclasts. Both mouse CD4 and CD8 T cells are expressed RANKL following their activation. Ligation of RANKL with OPG, the decoy receptor for RANKL, inhibited both CD4 and CD8 T cell proliferation. These effects were attributed to RANKL-induced apoptosis. These data indicate that CD137L and RANKL on osteoclasts and T cells, respectively provide them with inhibitory signal.