Bone marrow adipose tissue in metabolic health

Authors

Gisela Pachón-Peña, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA.
Miriam A. Bredella, Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: mbredella@mgh.harvard.edu.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-5-2022

Journal Title

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM

Abstract

Recent studies have highlighted the role of bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) as a regulator of skeletal homeostasis and energy metabolism. While long considered an inert filler, occupying empty spaces from bone loss and reduced hematopoiesis, BMAT is now considered a secretory and metabolic organ that responds to nutritional challenges and secretes cytokines, which indirectly impact energy and bone metabolism. The recent advances in our understanding of the function of BMAT have been enabled by novel noninvasive imaging techniques, which allow longitudinal assessment of BMAT in vivo following interventions. This review will focus on the latest advances in our understanding of BMAT and its role in metabolic health. Imaging techniques to quantify the content and composition of BMAT will be discussed.

Recommended Citation

Pachón-Peña G, Bredella MA. Bone marrow adipose tissue in metabolic health [published online ahead of print, 2022 Apr 5]. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2022;S1043-2760(22)00055-8. doi:10.1016/j.tem.2022.03.003