Function of Brown Adipose in Bone Formation

Baylor College Of Medicine, Houston TX

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Bone formation, either through de novo formation or fracture repair, appears to involve the immediate and rapid generation of brown adipose from progenitors within peripheral nerves. However, the purpose of these cells, and whether they contribute to the process of bone formation, is still unknown. In this application we propose that brown adipose tissue plays a critical role in bone formation through regulating the oxygen tension in the microenvironment, to ultimately expand, recruit, and engraft chondro-osseous progenitors, as well as ensure that the new bone is adequately vascularized and innervated. Thus this transient brown adipose tissue, through both its unique ability to rapidly and efficientl burn oxygen, as well as its capacity to secrete many growth factors, suggests that it may be a cell that is critical to this process. We will test this hypothesis by using an animal model that depletes both white and brown adipocytes of the starting material necessary for electron transport, thus preventing this process. Further, we will determine if blocking the activation of the hypoxia induced pathway, in brown adipose tissue will suppress bone formation, and finally we will directly measure whether brown adipose tissue secretes soluble factors essential for expansion and migration of osteoprogenitors. With completion of this work, we will have demonstrated a direct link between blood triglyceride-lipid levels and the ability to induce heterotopic ossification or bone repair.