1st BMAS Webinar Series - 19 february 2024
hosted by the BMAS Scientific Board
Bone marrow adipose tissue and cancer
Aline Bozec – Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany
In this webinar we will discuss the impact of being overweight or obese on the development and progression of tumors in the bones. We will show you how mice exposed to a short-term diet high in saturated fat changed the composition of cells in the bone, making it more favorable for tumor growth. We explored a chemical called bisphenol-A-diglycidylether (BADGE), which inhibits the development of fat cells. When mice were treated with BADGE, it significantly reduced tumor growth in the bones. We found a unique group of active macrophages (BM MMe) in the bones of HFD-fed mice, similar to those found in WAT. Metabolomic analysis confirmed the presence of compounds promoting macrophage activation. These bone macrophages might promote tumors. Our analysis also suggested a connection between these bone macrophages and neutrophils. In summary, this study reveals a connection between bone marrow adipocyte, active macrophages, neutrophils, and a diet high in saturated fat, shedding light on the local effects of such a diet.
SPEAKER
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Aline Bozec is affiliated with the Medizinische Klinik 3-Rheumatologie und Immunologie (Department of Rheumatology and Immunology) at the University Hospital Erlangen (Germany) as full professor in experimental immune therapy. Her research group has a particular focus on the interplay between metabolism, bone homeostasis, and inflammation. The Bozec Laboratory’s primary research objective is to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that alter the bone marrow microenvironment under the influence of various disease conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and cancer metastasis. By employing in vitro and in vivo gain- and loss-of-function murine models, the laboratory has uncovered crucial roles for the immune system in regulating the differentiation of bone cell types, including osteoclasts and osteoblasts.