Fat, Muscle, and Bone Interactions in Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome
1Division of Endocrinology, University of New Mexico/New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, USA
2Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care Medicine, University of New Mexico/New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, USA
3Department of Medicine, Campus Biomedico, Rome, Italy
4Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Fat, Muscle, and Bone Interactions in Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome
Description
There is growing interest in the interactions between fat, muscle, and bone in the context of obesity/metabolic syndrome. Fatty infiltration in the muscles associated with obesity/metabolic syndrome leads to poor muscle quality, poor strength, and poor physical function most especially in the elderly. In addition, adipose tissue secretes inflammatory cytokines that may result in skeletal muscle inflammation and poor bone quality. In fact, for bone, the traditional concept that a high body weight is osteoprotective is now challenged by recent findings of an increased prevalence of fractures as BMI goes from overweight to obese. Recent scientific advances have shown that cell signals that promote mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into the adipogenic pathway are associated with suppression of signaling in the myogenic and osteogenic pathways and vice versa. Knowledge and understanding of these interactions have led to the development of animal models, identification of novel targets, and the development of modalities that may alleviate the negative consequences of obesity/metabolic syndrome on the musculoskeletal system aside from improving the associated metabolic derangement.
We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will promote the continuing interest in understanding the underlying mechanisms of fat, muscle, and bone interactions in obesity and the development of strategies to minimize or treat muscle and bone dysfunction that accompanies obesity/metabolic dysfunction. We are particularly interested in articles reporting or describing research on topics which include, but are not limited to:
- Pathways involved in fat redistribution associated with obesity/metabolic syndrome
- Role of inflammation in muscle and bone dysfunction in obesity
- Evaluation and characterization of muscle dysfunction/sarcopenia in obesity
- Evaluation of bone quantity and bone quality in obesity
- Bone marrow characterization/analysis in animal or human models of obesity
- Role of lifestyle therapy in the prevention or reversal of muscle dysfunction/sacropenia associated with obesity
- Role of lifestyle therapy in the prevention or reversal of deterioration in bone quality associated with obesity
- Drug therapies that may improve muscle or bone metabolism in addition to improving the metabolic dysfunction in obesity/metabolic syndrome
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