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Bone Marrow Adipocytes: A Critical Player in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment
Lipeng Wang1, Hao Zhang2, Sicheng Wang3
1Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|December 16, 2021
Summary
Bone marrow adipocytes (BMAs) are crucial regulators of blood cell formation, bone development, and immune responses. Understanding BMAs offers new therapeutic targets for bone marrow diseases like osteoporosis and leukemia.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Cell Biology
- Hematology
Background:
- Bone marrow adipocytes (BMAs) have long been recognized but their roles in the bone marrow niche are underestimated.
- BMAs are distinct from white, brown, and beige adipocytes, with unique characteristics derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the origin, differentiation, and multifaceted roles of BMAs.
- To highlight BMAs as critical regulators in hematopoiesis, osteogenesis, and osteoclastogenesis.
- To explore the implications of BMA function in immune regulation.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent single-cell sequencing studies.
- Analysis of seminal works on BMA differentiation and function.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on BMA roles in bone marrow biology.
Main Results:
- BMAs originate from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells and have unique differentiation pathways.
- BMAs are confirmed as critical regulators of hematopoiesis, osteogenesis, and osteoclastogenesis.
- Emerging evidence points to significant roles for BMAs in immune regulation.
Conclusions:
- Bone marrow adipocytes are key components of the bone marrow microenvironment with significant regulatory functions.
- BMAs represent a promising novel therapeutic target for bone marrow-related diseases, including osteoporosis and leukemia.
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