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Endocrine Abstracts (2018) 56 S22.2 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.56.S22.2

ECE2018 Symposia The fatty bone (3 abstracts)

Bone marrow adipose tissue: starving for attention

William Cawthorn


UK.


Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) accounts for up to 70% of bone marrow volume and over 10% of total adipose mass in lean, healthy humans. BMAT further increases in diverse clinical conditions, including ageing, osteoporosis, obesity/diabetes, glucocorticoid treatment, cancer therapy and, strikingly, during caloric restriction. Many of these conditions are also associated with bone loss and increased fracture risk, and therefore it has been suggested that BMAT might directly impact skeletal remodelling. Recent studies also support a role for bone marrow adipocytes in modulating haematopoiesis, fracture repair and progression of skeletal metastases or myeloid tumours. However, study of BMAT has been relatively limited, and therefore the formation and function of bone marrow adipocytes remains poorly understood. We previously revealed that, during caloric restriction, BMAT contributes to increased circulating levels of adiponectin, a hormone with diverse cardio-metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, like white adipose tissue, BMAT is an endocrine organ that can exert systemic effects. My lab is now building on this finding by further investigating the causes and consequences of BMAT formation, in particular during caloric restriction. Our goal is to determine how BMAT impacts metabolic and skeletal health. By combining preclinical models, advanced imaging approaches and clinical sample analyses, our research is beginning to reveal new insights into metabolic and endocrine functions of BMAT; the mechanisms contributing to BMAT formation; and the relationship between BMAT accumulation, bone loss and metabolic health.

Volume 56

20th European Congress of Endocrinology

Barcelona, Spain
19 May 2018 - 22 May 2018

European Society of Endocrinology 

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