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Current Osteoporosis Reports
Published in: Current Osteoporosis Reports 6/2019

01-12-2019 | Obesity | Bone Marrow and Adipose Tissue (G Duque and B Lecka-Czernik, Section Editors)

Endogenous Glucocorticoid Signaling in the Regulation of Bone and Marrow Adiposity: Lessons from Metabolism and Cross Talk in Other Tissues

Authors: Anuj K. Sharma, Xingming Shi, Carlos M. Isales, Meghan E. McGee-Lawrence

Published in: Current Osteoporosis Reports | Issue 6/2019

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The development of adiposity in the bone marrow, known as marrow adipose tissue (MAT), is often associated with musculoskeletal frailty. Glucocorticoids, which are a key component of the biological response to stress, affect both bone and MAT. These molecules signal through receptors such as the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), but the role of the GR in regulation of MAT is not yet clear from previous studies. The purpose of this review is to establish and determine the role of GR-mediated signaling in marrow adiposity by comparing and contrasting what is known against other energy-storing tissues like adipose tissue, liver, and muscle, to provide better insight into the regulation of MAT during times of metabolic stress (e.g., dietary challenges, aging).

Recent Findings

GR-mediated glucocorticoid signaling is critical for proper storage and utilization of lipids in cells such as adipocytes and hepatocytes and proteolysis in muscle, impacting whole-body composition, energy utilization, and homeostasis through a complex network of tissue cross talk between these systems. Loss of GR signaling in bone promotes increased MAT and decreased bone mass.

Summary

GR-mediated signaling in the liver, adipose tissue, and muscle is critical for whole-body energy and metabolic homeostasis, and both similarities and differences in GR-mediated GC signaling in MAT as compared with these tissues are readily apparent. It is clear that GC-induced pathways work together through these tissues to affect systemic biology, and understanding the role of bone in these patterns of tissue cross talk may lead to a better understanding of MAT-bone biology that improves treatment strategies for frailty-associated diseases.
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Metadata
Title
Endogenous Glucocorticoid Signaling in the Regulation of Bone and Marrow Adiposity: Lessons from Metabolism and Cross Talk in Other Tissues
Authors
Anuj K. Sharma
Xingming Shi
Carlos M. Isales
Meghan E. McGee-Lawrence
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Osteoporosis Reports / Issue 6/2019
Print ISSN: 1544-1873
Electronic ISSN: 1544-2241
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-019-00554-6

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