Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2026

Dual Effects of Melanoma Cell-derived Factors on Bone Marrow Adipocytes Differentiation
Published on: August 23, 2018
Adipocyte tissue volume in bone marrow is increased with aging and in patients with osteoporosis
J Justesen1, K Stenderup, E N Ebbesen
1University Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Aarhus Amtssygehus, Denmark.
Abstract:
Aging of the human skeleton is characterized by decreased bone formation and bone mass and these changes are more pronounced in patients with osteoporosis. As osteoblasts and adipocytes share a common precursor cell in the bone marrow, we hypothesized that decreased bone formation observed during aging and in patients with osteoporosis is the result of enhanced adipognesis versus osteoblastogenesis from precursor cells in the bone marrow. Thus, we examined iliac crest bone biopsies obtained from 53 healthy normal individuals (age 30-100) and 26 patients with osteoporosis (age 52-92). Adipose tissue volume fraction (AV), hematopoietic tissue volume fraction (HV) and trabecular bone volume fraction (BV) were quantitated as a percentage of total tissue volume fraction (TV) (calculated as BV + AV + HV) using the point-counting method. We found an age-related increase in AV/TV (r = 0.53, P < 0.001, n = 53) and an age-related decline in BV/TV (r = -0.46, P < 0.001, n = 53) as well as in the HV/TV (r -0.318, P < 0.05, n = 53). There was an age-related inverse correlation between BV/TV and AV/TV (r = -0.58, P < 0.001). No significant correlation between the AV/TV and the body mass index (r = 0.06, n.s., n = 52) was detectable. Compared with age-matched controls, patients with osteoporosis exhibited an increased AV/TV (P < 0.05) and decreased BV/TV (P < 0.05) but no statistically significant difference in HV/TV. Our data support the hypothesis that with aging and in osteoporosis an enhanced adipogenesis is observed in the bone marrow and that these changes are inversely correlated to decreased trabecular bone volume. The cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating these changes remain to be determined.
Related Concept Videos
Bone Remodeling
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling
The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Bone Cells and Tissue
Osteoblasts and Osteocytes
The osteoblast is the bone cell responsible for forming new bone tissue. It is found in the growing portions of bone, including the periosteum and...
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...

