Bone marrow adipose tissue as a novel regulator of metabolic homeostasis
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Centre for Cardiovascular Science
Abstract
Stop and think about your bones; what images come to mind? Perhaps a skull with grinning jaws, or the strong white limbs stretching from your hips to your toes. You might even think of the bone marrow within them, producing the blood that courses through your veins. But this is not the whole picture, for your skeleton hides a secret: it is full of fat, and no one knows why.
This unsolved mystery is surprising. Scientists first noticed that our bone marrow contains fat-storing cells, called adipocytes, over a century ago. Having fat in our bones might strike you as unusual, but it is not: bone marrow adipose tissue (MAT) makes up to 70% of bone marrow volume in healthy adults, suggesting that MAT has a role in normal human physiology. MAT further increases in conditions of altered bone formation or metabolic health. For example, increased MAT occurs in osteoporosis, suggesting that MAT might contribute to the bone fragility that defines this disease. Perhaps most bizarrely, MAT formation increases in starvation states, such as during caloric restriction in animals or in human patients with anorexia nervosa. This is in stark contrast to adipose tissue elsewhere in the body, called white adipose tissue (WAT), which is broken down during starvation to be used as fuel. Caloric restriction has numerous health benefits, including increased lifespan, decreased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, and metabolic benefits such as enhanced fat breakdown and insulin sensitivity. MAT also increases in response to treatment with anti-diabetic drugs, which, like caloric restriction, enhance insulin sensitivity. These clinical observations raise the possibility that MAT directly promotes insulin sensitivity and metabolic health. But unlike WAT, almost nothing is known about the biological function of MAT.
The possibility that MAT exerts metabolic benefits could have enormous implications for human health. Metabolic diseases such as diabetes currently place a huge burden on public health, both in the UK and around the globe. One in seventeen adults in the UK, or 3.2 million people, now has diabetes, and this is expected to rise to 4.6 million people by 2030. This is causing a major strain on the economy, costing the NHS over £1.5 million an hour, or 10% of the NHS budget for England and Wales. In total, an estimated £14 billion is spent a year on treating diabetes and its complications in the UK. Globally, diabetes cost £232 billion in 2010, and this is projected to increase to over £300 billion by 2030. Identifying new treatments for diabetes and its complications would therefore provide a massive benefit to human health worldwide. However, developing such treatments requires improved understanding of the factors that regulate insulin sensitivity and metabolic health. This leads us back to MAT. What controls MAT formation, and does MAT benefit metabolic health?
A team of scientists at the University of Edinburgh is now working to answer these key questions. Members of this research team recently found that, during caloric restriction, MAT is a key source of adiponectin, a hormone that helps to maintain insulin sensitivity and fat breakdown, and which is linked to decreased risk of obesity-associated cancers, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The University of Edinburgh team will now build on this research by studying why MAT expands during caloric restriction and investigating if MAT affects our metabolic health. Finally, these researchers will study samples of MAT and WAT provided by human donors to determine precisely how MAT differs to WAT in humans.
These studies will help to unravel the mystery of MAT. In doing so, this research might allow the development of new treatments for diabetes and its complications, as well as other diseases including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. This will be vital if we are to reduce the public health impact of these globally relevant health problems.
This unsolved mystery is surprising. Scientists first noticed that our bone marrow contains fat-storing cells, called adipocytes, over a century ago. Having fat in our bones might strike you as unusual, but it is not: bone marrow adipose tissue (MAT) makes up to 70% of bone marrow volume in healthy adults, suggesting that MAT has a role in normal human physiology. MAT further increases in conditions of altered bone formation or metabolic health. For example, increased MAT occurs in osteoporosis, suggesting that MAT might contribute to the bone fragility that defines this disease. Perhaps most bizarrely, MAT formation increases in starvation states, such as during caloric restriction in animals or in human patients with anorexia nervosa. This is in stark contrast to adipose tissue elsewhere in the body, called white adipose tissue (WAT), which is broken down during starvation to be used as fuel. Caloric restriction has numerous health benefits, including increased lifespan, decreased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, and metabolic benefits such as enhanced fat breakdown and insulin sensitivity. MAT also increases in response to treatment with anti-diabetic drugs, which, like caloric restriction, enhance insulin sensitivity. These clinical observations raise the possibility that MAT directly promotes insulin sensitivity and metabolic health. But unlike WAT, almost nothing is known about the biological function of MAT.
The possibility that MAT exerts metabolic benefits could have enormous implications for human health. Metabolic diseases such as diabetes currently place a huge burden on public health, both in the UK and around the globe. One in seventeen adults in the UK, or 3.2 million people, now has diabetes, and this is expected to rise to 4.6 million people by 2030. This is causing a major strain on the economy, costing the NHS over £1.5 million an hour, or 10% of the NHS budget for England and Wales. In total, an estimated £14 billion is spent a year on treating diabetes and its complications in the UK. Globally, diabetes cost £232 billion in 2010, and this is projected to increase to over £300 billion by 2030. Identifying new treatments for diabetes and its complications would therefore provide a massive benefit to human health worldwide. However, developing such treatments requires improved understanding of the factors that regulate insulin sensitivity and metabolic health. This leads us back to MAT. What controls MAT formation, and does MAT benefit metabolic health?
A team of scientists at the University of Edinburgh is now working to answer these key questions. Members of this research team recently found that, during caloric restriction, MAT is a key source of adiponectin, a hormone that helps to maintain insulin sensitivity and fat breakdown, and which is linked to decreased risk of obesity-associated cancers, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The University of Edinburgh team will now build on this research by studying why MAT expands during caloric restriction and investigating if MAT affects our metabolic health. Finally, these researchers will study samples of MAT and WAT provided by human donors to determine precisely how MAT differs to WAT in humans.
These studies will help to unravel the mystery of MAT. In doing so, this research might allow the development of new treatments for diabetes and its complications, as well as other diseases including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. This will be vital if we are to reduce the public health impact of these globally relevant health problems.
Technical Summary
Bone marrow adipose tissue (MAT) comprises up to 70% of bone marrow volume in healthy adults and further increases under conditions of altered metabolic homeostasis, such as caloric restriction (CR). My previous research identifies MAT as an endocrine organ that has systemic effects. These observations suggest that MAT directly impacts metabolic homeostasis, knowledge that might reveal new approaches for treating diabetes and other metabolic diseases. However, in stark contrast to white or brown adipose tissues (WAT or BAT), study of MAT has been extremely limited; hence, the physiological and pathological roles of MAT are poorly understood. My research will address this major gap in knowledge by investigating the characteristics, formation and metabolic function of MAT. My first objective is to establish unique MAT characteristics. To do so I will use RNAseq, proteomics and metabolomics to globally characterise MAT, WAT and BAT from rats, followed by targeted analysis of these tissues from humans. This will provide crucial insights into MAT biology directly relevant to human health. My second objective is to determine if increased glucocorticoid action mediates MAT expansion during CR. To do so I will use surgical and pharmacological tools to block glucocorticoid activity in mice fed control or CR diets. This will shed new light on why CR causes MAT expansion. My third objective is to determine if MAT impacts metabolic homeostasis. To do so I will create a new mouse model that lacks MAT. I will then study these mice to determine if lack of MAT has metabolic consequences, both on a normal diet and during CR. Finally, my fourth objective is to establish new mouse models for specific, inducible genetic targeting of MAT. These unique models will open avenues for future research to shed new light on MAT formation and function. Such knowledge might reveal new mechanisms of metabolic regulation, thereby allowing development of new strategies to treat metabolic diseases.
Planned Impact
My research will hugely extend our knowledge of MAT formation and function while also establishing new experimental tools to open avenues for future cutting-edge research. This new knowledge might advance understanding and treatment of diverse clinical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, haematopoietic disorders, metastatic bone disease, and various cancers. Thus, the results of my research will have broad translational potential, including the following beneficiaries:
1) Pharmaceutical arms of the commercial sector - My results could allow the development of new treatments for the above diseases. For example, my research will reveal if MAT regulates insulin sensitivity. If so, then MAT might directly contribute to the effectiveness of FGF21, an emerging anti-diabetic therapy that promotes MAT expansion. Thus, the results of my research have clear potential to impact drug development. Indeed, my previous MAT research was partly funded by partners in the pharmaceutical industry, underscoring the strong translational potential of my work.
2) The NHS and public health policy-makers - Improved knowledge of MAT function could benefit clinical approaches to diagnose and treat the diverse diseases listed above, which in turn could allow for more effective public health strategies. For example, MAT is emerging as an important clinical indicator for increased fracture risk, and therefore could be used as a biomarker to identify high-risk individuals. My research will reveal if MAT also exerts systemic metabolic effects, in which case increased MAT might be associated with improved cardiometabolic health. Such knowledge would better inform clinicians and public health policy-makers in using MAT as a clinical biomarker. Moreover, my work will reveal if glucocorticoid excess promotes MAT expansion and/or bone loss during caloric restriction. This knowledge is clinically relevant to bone loss during anorexia nervosa, a condition that remains incompletely understood. Therefore, these results could directly benefit clinical practice within the five-year timeframe.
3) The wider public - New disease treatments and improved clinical practice would greatly benefit the wider public. For example, diabetes currently places a huge burden on public health, affecting 6% of UK adults, or 3.2 million people. This is a huge detriment to the economy, with an estimated £14 billion spent a year on treating diabetes and its complications in the UK. Identifying new treatments for diabetes and its complications would therefore hugely benefit the UK economy and the health of the wider public.
4) Staff working on this project - In pursuing this research I will supervise and mentor my lab members, who will develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork and time-management. I will develop skills including project- and financial-management, leadership and mentoring. Thus, my lab members and I will develop professional skills that are essential for success in many employment sectors.
Within the five-year timeframe we will have established the unique characteristics of MAT compared to WAT and BAT, including analysis of human tissues to ensure direct relevance to human health. We will have determined if excess glucocorticoids contribute to MAT expansion and bone loss during caloric restriction. We will have revealed if MAT impacts metabolic homeostasis, laying a foundation for development of new treatments for metabolic disease. Finally, we will have established new mouse models for specific, inducible MAT targeting, thereby opening avenues for future research to more precisely dissect MAT function. Such research will allow us to establish if MAT directly impacts the diverse clinical conditions described above, which will aid progress toward meeting these extensive unmet clinical needs.
1) Pharmaceutical arms of the commercial sector - My results could allow the development of new treatments for the above diseases. For example, my research will reveal if MAT regulates insulin sensitivity. If so, then MAT might directly contribute to the effectiveness of FGF21, an emerging anti-diabetic therapy that promotes MAT expansion. Thus, the results of my research have clear potential to impact drug development. Indeed, my previous MAT research was partly funded by partners in the pharmaceutical industry, underscoring the strong translational potential of my work.
2) The NHS and public health policy-makers - Improved knowledge of MAT function could benefit clinical approaches to diagnose and treat the diverse diseases listed above, which in turn could allow for more effective public health strategies. For example, MAT is emerging as an important clinical indicator for increased fracture risk, and therefore could be used as a biomarker to identify high-risk individuals. My research will reveal if MAT also exerts systemic metabolic effects, in which case increased MAT might be associated with improved cardiometabolic health. Such knowledge would better inform clinicians and public health policy-makers in using MAT as a clinical biomarker. Moreover, my work will reveal if glucocorticoid excess promotes MAT expansion and/or bone loss during caloric restriction. This knowledge is clinically relevant to bone loss during anorexia nervosa, a condition that remains incompletely understood. Therefore, these results could directly benefit clinical practice within the five-year timeframe.
3) The wider public - New disease treatments and improved clinical practice would greatly benefit the wider public. For example, diabetes currently places a huge burden on public health, affecting 6% of UK adults, or 3.2 million people. This is a huge detriment to the economy, with an estimated £14 billion spent a year on treating diabetes and its complications in the UK. Identifying new treatments for diabetes and its complications would therefore hugely benefit the UK economy and the health of the wider public.
4) Staff working on this project - In pursuing this research I will supervise and mentor my lab members, who will develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork and time-management. I will develop skills including project- and financial-management, leadership and mentoring. Thus, my lab members and I will develop professional skills that are essential for success in many employment sectors.
Within the five-year timeframe we will have established the unique characteristics of MAT compared to WAT and BAT, including analysis of human tissues to ensure direct relevance to human health. We will have determined if excess glucocorticoids contribute to MAT expansion and bone loss during caloric restriction. We will have revealed if MAT impacts metabolic homeostasis, laying a foundation for development of new treatments for metabolic disease. Finally, we will have established new mouse models for specific, inducible MAT targeting, thereby opening avenues for future research to more precisely dissect MAT function. Such research will allow us to establish if MAT directly impacts the diverse clinical conditions described above, which will aid progress toward meeting these extensive unmet clinical needs.
Organisations
- University of Edinburgh (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- Evercyte (Collaboration)
- Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (Collaboration)
- MS-Omics (Collaboration)
- University of Michigan (Collaboration)
- Erasmus MC (Collaboration)
- Marche Polytechnic University (Collaboration)
- Alexander Fleming Biomedical Sciences Research Centre (BSRC) (Collaboration)
- Center For Biomarker Research In Medicine (Collaboration)
- University of California, Davis (Collaboration)
- Pathophysiology of inflammatory bone disease (PMOI) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON (Collaboration)
- Bruker Belgium (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN (Collaboration)
- University of Lille (Collaboration)
- University of Adelaide (Collaboration)
Publications
Suchacki KJ
(2016)
Bone marrow adipose tissue: formation, function and regulation.
in Current opinion in pharmacology
Sulston RJ
(2016)
Bone marrow adipose tissue as an endocrine organ: close to the bone?
in Hormone molecular biology and clinical investigation
Scheller EL
(2016)
Inside out: Bone marrow adipose tissue as a source of circulating adiponectin.
in Adipocyte
Scheller E
(2016)
Marrow Adipose Tissue: Trimming the Fat
in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sulston RJ
(2016)
Increased Circulating Adiponectin in Response to Thiazolidinediones: Investigating the Role of Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue.
in Frontiers in endocrinology
Cawthorn WP
(2017)
Editorial: Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue: Formation, Function, and Impact on Health and Disease.
in Frontiers in endocrinology
Suchacki KJ
(2017)
Skeletal energy homeostasis: a paradigm of endocrine discovery.
in The Journal of endocrinology
Suchacki KJ
(2018)
Molecular Interaction of Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue with Energy Metabolism.
in Current molecular biology reports
Sheng L
(2018)
New Insights Into the Long Non-coding RNA SRA: Physiological Functions and Mechanisms of Action.
in Frontiers in medicine
Description | Institutional Strategic Support Fund |
Amount | £23,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
Department | Wellcome Trust Strategic Award |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2016 |
End | 12/2016 |
Description | Practical Skills Grant |
Amount | £979 (GBP) |
Organisation | Society for Endocrinology |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 10/2018 |
Description | Research Boards May 2018 Submissions - Population & Systems Medicine Board |
Amount | £677,093 (GBP) |
Funding ID | MR/S010505/1 |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | Research Incentive Grant |
Amount | £8,525 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RIG007416 |
Organisation | Carnegie Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 02/2019 |
Description | Wellcome-University of Edinburgh Institutional Strategic Support Fund (ISSF3) award |
Amount | £38,500 (GBP) |
Funding ID | IS3-R2.03 |
Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2019 |
End | 05/2020 |
Title | Analysis of bone marrow adipose tissue and red marrow by PET-CT |
Description | This method allows bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) to be distinguished from red bone marrow (red marrow; RM) and bone tissue in computed tomography (CT) scans. These tissues are distinguished based on differences in attenuation density (measured in Hounsfield Units; HU). The HU for BMAT, RM and bone were determined from paired CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans: MRI was used to identify BMAT-rich regions of bone marrow, such that, once aligned to the CT scans, the density of these BMAT-rich regions could be determined and compared to the density of BMAT-deficient RM and bone. HU were extracted on a per voxel basis, and data underwent post-processing using a customised in-house software, developed in Matlab, to measure the total number of voxels across all patient HU. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the CT data (MedCalc) was then conducted on per-voxel HU to determine threshold values with the greatest sensitivity and specificity to detect bone, BMAT and RM. Thresholds of above 300 HU were defined as bone regions, -200 to 115 HU as BMAT, and 115 to 300 as RM. These thresholds can then be applied to CT data to identify the amount of BMAT vs RM. When applied to PET-CT data, they allow tracer uptake to be distinguished between BMAT, RM and bone. |
Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | We have generated a new code for ROC analysis of the HU of voxels in CT data, which we have deposited in GitHub (as described below). |
URL | https://github.com/Georgerun/ROCPerPixel |
Title | Extraction and LC-MS/MS analysis of four steroids from mouse plasma and bone marrow |
Description | Steroid hormones, including progesterone, testosterone and corticosterone, play a critical role in growth, development, reproductive function and sexual differentiation. Steroid production is controlled in the adrenals via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and in the gonads by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, but steroids are also produced and metabolised in peripheral tissues such as adipose tissue. Circulating steroids (blood levels) do not always reflect local steroid tissue levels. In studies of caloric restriction there are observed changes in steroids and there is interest in the role that bone marrow adipose tissue plays1. Thus, to understand mechanisms of caloric restriction it is valuable to measure tissue levels of steroids as well as circulating levels of steroids. Immunoassays can be used to measure steroids but they lack specificity, limited to one or two steroids, and suffer from cross-reactivity at low concentrations. Tandem mass spectrometry methods coupled with chromatographic separation are considered the gold standard analytical technique for steroid analysis, such as LC-MS/MS, with the added benefit of enabling simultaneous analysis of multiple steroids. Here we have improved upon existing murine steroid liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods2 for the quantitation of four steroids in small samples to investigate the role of steroids in caloric restriction - specifically corticosterone, 11-dehydrocorticosterone, testosterone and progesterone - in bone marrow and plasma. Bone marrow is homogenised and then homogenate samples and plasma samples (~50 µL) were extracted by automated 96-well supported liquid extraction (SLE), using dichloromethane and isopropanol as an organic solvent, carried out on a Biotage Extrahera automated sample handler. Extracted steroids were separated on a Shimadzu Nexera uHPLC with gradient elution on a Kinetex C18 column (150 x 3 mm; 2.6 µm) and a mobile phase of methanol and water (0.1% formic acid). The run time was 16 minutes, followed by mass spectral analysis on an AB Sciex 6500+ tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in positive ionisation mode. This automated SLE-LC-MS/MS method has been used to analyse 4 steroids - corticosterone, progesterone and testosterone - in mouse plasma and bone marrow. Validation demonstrates that this method is sensitive, specific, and suitable for steroid measurement in mouse bone marrow (4-8 bones) and a low volume of mouse plasma (50 µL), enabling investigation into tissue specific steroid levels and corresponding assessment of circulating steroid levels. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2024 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This method allowed measurement of steroid hormones in mouse plasma and BM samples, in a way that would not previously have been possible. These analyses are included in a manuscript that has been submitted for publication. |
URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.e6nvwdrmzlmk/v1 |
Title | Cawthorn Lab: Data for sex differences manuscript |
Description | Source data for figures included in our manuscript about age-dependent sex differences in the metabolic effects of caloric restriction (version date 03 March 2023). The abstract is as follows: "Caloric restriction (CR) is a nutritional intervention that reduces the risk of age-related diseases in numerous species, including humans. CR's metabolic effects, including decreased fat mass and improved insulin sensitivity, play an important role in its broader health benefits. However, the extent and basis of sex differences in CR's health benefits are unknown. We found that 30% CR in young (3-month-old) male mice decreased fat mass and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, whereas these effects were blunted or absent in young female mice. Females' resistance to fat and weight loss was associated with decreased lipolysis, lower systemic energy expenditure and fatty acid oxidation, and increased postprandial lipogenesis compared to males. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) showed that peripheral glucose uptake was comparable between sexes. Instead, the sex differences in glucose homeostasis were associated with altered hepatic ceramide content and substrate metabolism: compared to CR males, CR females had lower TCA cycle activity but higher blood ketone concentrations, a marker of hepatic acetyl-CoA content. This suggests that males use hepatic acetyl-CoA for the TCA cycle whereas in females it accumulates, thereby stimulating gluconeogenesis and limiting hypoglycaemia during CR. In aged mice (18-months old), when females are anoestrus, CR decreased fat mass and improved glucose homeostasis to a similar extent in both sexes. Finally, in a cohort of overweight and obese humans CR-induced fat loss was also sex- and age-dependent: younger females (<45 years) resisted fat loss compared to younger males while in older subjects (>45 years) this sex difference was absent. Collectively, these studies identify age-dependent sex differences in the metabolic effects of CR and highlight adipose tissue, the liver and oestrogen as key determinants of CR's metabolic benefits. These findings have important implications for understanding the interplay between diet and health and for maximising the benefits of CR in humans." |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Supported our preprint that is now under peer review |
URL | https://datashare.ed.ac.uk/handle/10283/4742 |
Title | GSE230402: Sex differences in the effects of caloric restriction (CR) on hepatic gene expression in mice |
Description | Experiment type: Expression profiling by high throughput sequencing Summary: The effects of caloric restriction (CR) on glucose homeostasis and metabolic function differ between males and females. To investigate if hepatic function contributes to these sex differences, we collected liver samples from male and female C57BL/6NCrl mice that were fed ad libitum (AL) or underwent caloric restriction (CR; receiving 70% of daily AL intake) from 9-13 weeks of age. Livers were then analysed by bulk RNA-seq. Overall design: The goal of this study was to determine how caloric restriction (CR) influences the hepatic transcriptome and if this differs between males and females. The experiment included five ad libitum (AL)-fed females, six CR females, six AL males and five CR males. Mice were fed AL or CR from 9-13 weeks of age. To minimise effects resulting from differences in fasting duration, mice in both the AL and CR groups were fasted for ~8 hours prior to necropsy and liver sampling. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This dataset was a critical part of our publication on sex differences in the metabolic effects of caloric restriction ( https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.88080) |
URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE230402 |
Title | Microarray analysis of white adipose tissue and bone marrow adipose tissue from New Zealand White rabbits |
Description | Microarray analysis of white adipose tissue (WAT) and bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) from 22-week-old or 13-week-old male New Zealand White rabbits. From both cohorts, BMAT was sampled from the distal tibia (dBMAT) and the radius and ulna (ruBMAT), while WAT was sampled from the inguinal (iWAT) and gonadal (gWAT) depots. From the 13-week-old cohort, BMAT was also sampled from the proximal tibia (pBMAT). Sufficient RNA could not be isolated from all tissues for all rabbits, so for some rabbits only a subset of tissues is included. The goal of this study was to determine global differences in gene expression between WAT and BMAT and whether these differ by WAT and/or BMAT depot. Five rabbits were included in the 22-week-old cohort and six rabbits in the 13-week-old cohort. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This dataset allows comparison of white adipose tissue (WAT) with bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT). It has identified distinct molecular characteristics of BMAT, highlighting potential mechanisms that contribute to BMAT's unique functions. |
URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE138690 |
Description | Aberdeen collaborations |
Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
Department | The Rowett Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We analysed samples of mouse bones sent by two groups based at the Rowett Institute, and anonymised data from a human nutrition study. |
Collaborator Contribution | Two partners sent bone samples from their unique genetically altered mouse models. One of these partners also sent us laboratory reagents for analysing expression of transcripts of interest in some of our experimental samples. A third partner coordinated a nutritional intervention study in human volunteers, to assess effects of caloric restriction on weight loss and body composition. We analysed some of this data to address a specific hypothesis. |
Impact | Myself and my MRC-supported postdoc are co-authors on a paper that was recently published (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2018.01.019) |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Bela Wrench collaboration |
Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
Department | William Harvey Research Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My lab has analysed bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) in bones from Dr Wrench's mouse models of acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL). To do so we have used our technique in which bones are stained with osmium tetroxide (to make the BMAT radio-dense) and then scanned by µCT to visualise the BMAT in 3D. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Wrench's lab led the studies in these ALL mouse models. They then provided us with fixed bones from these mice. |
Impact | None so far, but a manuscript including my lab's contributions is now under review. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | BoneAHEAD |
Organisation | Alexander Fleming Biomedical Sciences Research Centre (BSRC) |
Country | Greece |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am a named collaborator on a collaborative grant awarded by the French Government to Professor Pierre Hardouin. The grant is entitled 'BoneAHEAD' (Bone Adiposity in HEAlth and Diseases) and is aimed at establishing a pan-European network for further research into bone marrow adipose tissue, with the specific goal of obtaining EU funding for further research. Consistent with this, in 2016/2017 we applied for two EU calls: a COST Network grant, and an Innovative Training Network (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). We were unsuccessful with these initial applications but have now submitted revised applications. We expect to hear the outcome by mid-2018. |
Collaborator Contribution | The initial funding application was led by Prof. Hardouin. He and I, as well as several other partners (e.g. Oxford, Erasmus, Alexander Fleming, Lille) have spearheaded the COST and ITN applications. |
Impact | We organised the First European meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2015) held in Lille, 28-29 August 2015 (http://bma2015.sciencesconf.org/). A summary of BMA2015 was published in the journal 'Bone' (http://www.thebonejournal.com/article/S8756-3282(15)00414-7/abstract) We then organised the second BMA meeting in Rotterdam in August 2016 (https://adiposity.sciencesconf.org/), a summary of which was published in the journal 'Adipocyte' ( We have written a summary of this meeting, which is to be published in the journal 'Adipocyte' (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21623945.2017.1313374). This was followed by BMA2017 in Lausanne in August-September 2017 (https://bma2017.sciencesconf.org/). In the build-up to BMA2017 we worked toward the creation of an International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS). This was voted on at BMA2017 and is now in the process of being formally established as the first society focused on bone marrow adipose research (http://bma-society.org/) (https://twitter.com/BMA_Society) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BoneAHEAD |
Organisation | Bruker Belgium |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | I am a named collaborator on a collaborative grant awarded by the French Government to Professor Pierre Hardouin. The grant is entitled 'BoneAHEAD' (Bone Adiposity in HEAlth and Diseases) and is aimed at establishing a pan-European network for further research into bone marrow adipose tissue, with the specific goal of obtaining EU funding for further research. Consistent with this, in 2016/2017 we applied for two EU calls: a COST Network grant, and an Innovative Training Network (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). We were unsuccessful with these initial applications but have now submitted revised applications. We expect to hear the outcome by mid-2018. |
Collaborator Contribution | The initial funding application was led by Prof. Hardouin. He and I, as well as several other partners (e.g. Oxford, Erasmus, Alexander Fleming, Lille) have spearheaded the COST and ITN applications. |
Impact | We organised the First European meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2015) held in Lille, 28-29 August 2015 (http://bma2015.sciencesconf.org/). A summary of BMA2015 was published in the journal 'Bone' (http://www.thebonejournal.com/article/S8756-3282(15)00414-7/abstract) We then organised the second BMA meeting in Rotterdam in August 2016 (https://adiposity.sciencesconf.org/), a summary of which was published in the journal 'Adipocyte' ( We have written a summary of this meeting, which is to be published in the journal 'Adipocyte' (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21623945.2017.1313374). This was followed by BMA2017 in Lausanne in August-September 2017 (https://bma2017.sciencesconf.org/). In the build-up to BMA2017 we worked toward the creation of an International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS). This was voted on at BMA2017 and is now in the process of being formally established as the first society focused on bone marrow adipose research (http://bma-society.org/) (https://twitter.com/BMA_Society) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BoneAHEAD |
Organisation | Center For Biomarker Research In Medicine |
Country | Austria |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | I am a named collaborator on a collaborative grant awarded by the French Government to Professor Pierre Hardouin. The grant is entitled 'BoneAHEAD' (Bone Adiposity in HEAlth and Diseases) and is aimed at establishing a pan-European network for further research into bone marrow adipose tissue, with the specific goal of obtaining EU funding for further research. Consistent with this, in 2016/2017 we applied for two EU calls: a COST Network grant, and an Innovative Training Network (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). We were unsuccessful with these initial applications but have now submitted revised applications. We expect to hear the outcome by mid-2018. |
Collaborator Contribution | The initial funding application was led by Prof. Hardouin. He and I, as well as several other partners (e.g. Oxford, Erasmus, Alexander Fleming, Lille) have spearheaded the COST and ITN applications. |
Impact | We organised the First European meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2015) held in Lille, 28-29 August 2015 (http://bma2015.sciencesconf.org/). A summary of BMA2015 was published in the journal 'Bone' (http://www.thebonejournal.com/article/S8756-3282(15)00414-7/abstract) We then organised the second BMA meeting in Rotterdam in August 2016 (https://adiposity.sciencesconf.org/), a summary of which was published in the journal 'Adipocyte' ( We have written a summary of this meeting, which is to be published in the journal 'Adipocyte' (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21623945.2017.1313374). This was followed by BMA2017 in Lausanne in August-September 2017 (https://bma2017.sciencesconf.org/). In the build-up to BMA2017 we worked toward the creation of an International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS). This was voted on at BMA2017 and is now in the process of being formally established as the first society focused on bone marrow adipose research (http://bma-society.org/) (https://twitter.com/BMA_Society) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BoneAHEAD |
Organisation | Erasmus MC |
Department | Department of Internal Medicine |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am a named collaborator on a collaborative grant awarded by the French Government to Professor Pierre Hardouin. The grant is entitled 'BoneAHEAD' (Bone Adiposity in HEAlth and Diseases) and is aimed at establishing a pan-European network for further research into bone marrow adipose tissue, with the specific goal of obtaining EU funding for further research. Consistent with this, in 2016/2017 we applied for two EU calls: a COST Network grant, and an Innovative Training Network (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). We were unsuccessful with these initial applications but have now submitted revised applications. We expect to hear the outcome by mid-2018. |
Collaborator Contribution | The initial funding application was led by Prof. Hardouin. He and I, as well as several other partners (e.g. Oxford, Erasmus, Alexander Fleming, Lille) have spearheaded the COST and ITN applications. |
Impact | We organised the First European meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2015) held in Lille, 28-29 August 2015 (http://bma2015.sciencesconf.org/). A summary of BMA2015 was published in the journal 'Bone' (http://www.thebonejournal.com/article/S8756-3282(15)00414-7/abstract) We then organised the second BMA meeting in Rotterdam in August 2016 (https://adiposity.sciencesconf.org/), a summary of which was published in the journal 'Adipocyte' ( We have written a summary of this meeting, which is to be published in the journal 'Adipocyte' (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21623945.2017.1313374). This was followed by BMA2017 in Lausanne in August-September 2017 (https://bma2017.sciencesconf.org/). In the build-up to BMA2017 we worked toward the creation of an International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS). This was voted on at BMA2017 and is now in the process of being formally established as the first society focused on bone marrow adipose research (http://bma-society.org/) (https://twitter.com/BMA_Society) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BoneAHEAD |
Organisation | Evercyte |
Country | Austria |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | I am a named collaborator on a collaborative grant awarded by the French Government to Professor Pierre Hardouin. The grant is entitled 'BoneAHEAD' (Bone Adiposity in HEAlth and Diseases) and is aimed at establishing a pan-European network for further research into bone marrow adipose tissue, with the specific goal of obtaining EU funding for further research. Consistent with this, in 2016/2017 we applied for two EU calls: a COST Network grant, and an Innovative Training Network (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). We were unsuccessful with these initial applications but have now submitted revised applications. We expect to hear the outcome by mid-2018. |
Collaborator Contribution | The initial funding application was led by Prof. Hardouin. He and I, as well as several other partners (e.g. Oxford, Erasmus, Alexander Fleming, Lille) have spearheaded the COST and ITN applications. |
Impact | We organised the First European meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2015) held in Lille, 28-29 August 2015 (http://bma2015.sciencesconf.org/). A summary of BMA2015 was published in the journal 'Bone' (http://www.thebonejournal.com/article/S8756-3282(15)00414-7/abstract) We then organised the second BMA meeting in Rotterdam in August 2016 (https://adiposity.sciencesconf.org/), a summary of which was published in the journal 'Adipocyte' ( We have written a summary of this meeting, which is to be published in the journal 'Adipocyte' (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21623945.2017.1313374). This was followed by BMA2017 in Lausanne in August-September 2017 (https://bma2017.sciencesconf.org/). In the build-up to BMA2017 we worked toward the creation of an International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS). This was voted on at BMA2017 and is now in the process of being formally established as the first society focused on bone marrow adipose research (http://bma-society.org/) (https://twitter.com/BMA_Society) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BoneAHEAD |
Organisation | Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am a named collaborator on a collaborative grant awarded by the French Government to Professor Pierre Hardouin. The grant is entitled 'BoneAHEAD' (Bone Adiposity in HEAlth and Diseases) and is aimed at establishing a pan-European network for further research into bone marrow adipose tissue, with the specific goal of obtaining EU funding for further research. Consistent with this, in 2016/2017 we applied for two EU calls: a COST Network grant, and an Innovative Training Network (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). We were unsuccessful with these initial applications but have now submitted revised applications. We expect to hear the outcome by mid-2018. |
Collaborator Contribution | The initial funding application was led by Prof. Hardouin. He and I, as well as several other partners (e.g. Oxford, Erasmus, Alexander Fleming, Lille) have spearheaded the COST and ITN applications. |
Impact | We organised the First European meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2015) held in Lille, 28-29 August 2015 (http://bma2015.sciencesconf.org/). A summary of BMA2015 was published in the journal 'Bone' (http://www.thebonejournal.com/article/S8756-3282(15)00414-7/abstract) We then organised the second BMA meeting in Rotterdam in August 2016 (https://adiposity.sciencesconf.org/), a summary of which was published in the journal 'Adipocyte' ( We have written a summary of this meeting, which is to be published in the journal 'Adipocyte' (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21623945.2017.1313374). This was followed by BMA2017 in Lausanne in August-September 2017 (https://bma2017.sciencesconf.org/). In the build-up to BMA2017 we worked toward the creation of an International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS). This was voted on at BMA2017 and is now in the process of being formally established as the first society focused on bone marrow adipose research (http://bma-society.org/) (https://twitter.com/BMA_Society) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BoneAHEAD |
Organisation | MS-Omics |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | I am a named collaborator on a collaborative grant awarded by the French Government to Professor Pierre Hardouin. The grant is entitled 'BoneAHEAD' (Bone Adiposity in HEAlth and Diseases) and is aimed at establishing a pan-European network for further research into bone marrow adipose tissue, with the specific goal of obtaining EU funding for further research. Consistent with this, in 2016/2017 we applied for two EU calls: a COST Network grant, and an Innovative Training Network (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). We were unsuccessful with these initial applications but have now submitted revised applications. We expect to hear the outcome by mid-2018. |
Collaborator Contribution | The initial funding application was led by Prof. Hardouin. He and I, as well as several other partners (e.g. Oxford, Erasmus, Alexander Fleming, Lille) have spearheaded the COST and ITN applications. |
Impact | We organised the First European meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2015) held in Lille, 28-29 August 2015 (http://bma2015.sciencesconf.org/). A summary of BMA2015 was published in the journal 'Bone' (http://www.thebonejournal.com/article/S8756-3282(15)00414-7/abstract) We then organised the second BMA meeting in Rotterdam in August 2016 (https://adiposity.sciencesconf.org/), a summary of which was published in the journal 'Adipocyte' ( We have written a summary of this meeting, which is to be published in the journal 'Adipocyte' (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21623945.2017.1313374). This was followed by BMA2017 in Lausanne in August-September 2017 (https://bma2017.sciencesconf.org/). In the build-up to BMA2017 we worked toward the creation of an International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS). This was voted on at BMA2017 and is now in the process of being formally established as the first society focused on bone marrow adipose research (http://bma-society.org/) (https://twitter.com/BMA_Society) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BoneAHEAD |
Organisation | Marche Polytechnic University |
Department | Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am a named collaborator on a collaborative grant awarded by the French Government to Professor Pierre Hardouin. The grant is entitled 'BoneAHEAD' (Bone Adiposity in HEAlth and Diseases) and is aimed at establishing a pan-European network for further research into bone marrow adipose tissue, with the specific goal of obtaining EU funding for further research. Consistent with this, in 2016/2017 we applied for two EU calls: a COST Network grant, and an Innovative Training Network (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). We were unsuccessful with these initial applications but have now submitted revised applications. We expect to hear the outcome by mid-2018. |
Collaborator Contribution | The initial funding application was led by Prof. Hardouin. He and I, as well as several other partners (e.g. Oxford, Erasmus, Alexander Fleming, Lille) have spearheaded the COST and ITN applications. |
Impact | We organised the First European meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2015) held in Lille, 28-29 August 2015 (http://bma2015.sciencesconf.org/). A summary of BMA2015 was published in the journal 'Bone' (http://www.thebonejournal.com/article/S8756-3282(15)00414-7/abstract) We then organised the second BMA meeting in Rotterdam in August 2016 (https://adiposity.sciencesconf.org/), a summary of which was published in the journal 'Adipocyte' ( We have written a summary of this meeting, which is to be published in the journal 'Adipocyte' (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21623945.2017.1313374). This was followed by BMA2017 in Lausanne in August-September 2017 (https://bma2017.sciencesconf.org/). In the build-up to BMA2017 we worked toward the creation of an International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS). This was voted on at BMA2017 and is now in the process of being formally established as the first society focused on bone marrow adipose research (http://bma-society.org/) (https://twitter.com/BMA_Society) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BoneAHEAD |
Organisation | Pathophysiology of inflammatory bone disease (PMOI) |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am a named collaborator on a collaborative grant awarded by the French Government to Professor Pierre Hardouin. The grant is entitled 'BoneAHEAD' (Bone Adiposity in HEAlth and Diseases) and is aimed at establishing a pan-European network for further research into bone marrow adipose tissue, with the specific goal of obtaining EU funding for further research. Consistent with this, in 2016/2017 we applied for two EU calls: a COST Network grant, and an Innovative Training Network (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). We were unsuccessful with these initial applications but have now submitted revised applications. We expect to hear the outcome by mid-2018. |
Collaborator Contribution | The initial funding application was led by Prof. Hardouin. He and I, as well as several other partners (e.g. Oxford, Erasmus, Alexander Fleming, Lille) have spearheaded the COST and ITN applications. |
Impact | We organised the First European meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2015) held in Lille, 28-29 August 2015 (http://bma2015.sciencesconf.org/). A summary of BMA2015 was published in the journal 'Bone' (http://www.thebonejournal.com/article/S8756-3282(15)00414-7/abstract) We then organised the second BMA meeting in Rotterdam in August 2016 (https://adiposity.sciencesconf.org/), a summary of which was published in the journal 'Adipocyte' ( We have written a summary of this meeting, which is to be published in the journal 'Adipocyte' (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21623945.2017.1313374). This was followed by BMA2017 in Lausanne in August-September 2017 (https://bma2017.sciencesconf.org/). In the build-up to BMA2017 we worked toward the creation of an International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS). This was voted on at BMA2017 and is now in the process of being formally established as the first society focused on bone marrow adipose research (http://bma-society.org/) (https://twitter.com/BMA_Society) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BoneAHEAD |
Organisation | University of Lille |
Department | Physiopathology of Inflammatory Bone Diseases (PMOI) |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am a named collaborator on a collaborative grant awarded by the French Government to Professor Pierre Hardouin. The grant is entitled 'BoneAHEAD' (Bone Adiposity in HEAlth and Diseases) and is aimed at establishing a pan-European network for further research into bone marrow adipose tissue, with the specific goal of obtaining EU funding for further research. Consistent with this, in 2016/2017 we applied for two EU calls: a COST Network grant, and an Innovative Training Network (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). We were unsuccessful with these initial applications but have now submitted revised applications. We expect to hear the outcome by mid-2018. |
Collaborator Contribution | The initial funding application was led by Prof. Hardouin. He and I, as well as several other partners (e.g. Oxford, Erasmus, Alexander Fleming, Lille) have spearheaded the COST and ITN applications. |
Impact | We organised the First European meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2015) held in Lille, 28-29 August 2015 (http://bma2015.sciencesconf.org/). A summary of BMA2015 was published in the journal 'Bone' (http://www.thebonejournal.com/article/S8756-3282(15)00414-7/abstract) We then organised the second BMA meeting in Rotterdam in August 2016 (https://adiposity.sciencesconf.org/), a summary of which was published in the journal 'Adipocyte' ( We have written a summary of this meeting, which is to be published in the journal 'Adipocyte' (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21623945.2017.1313374). This was followed by BMA2017 in Lausanne in August-September 2017 (https://bma2017.sciencesconf.org/). In the build-up to BMA2017 we worked toward the creation of an International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS). This was voted on at BMA2017 and is now in the process of being formally established as the first society focused on bone marrow adipose research (http://bma-society.org/) (https://twitter.com/BMA_Society) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BoneAHEAD |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am a named collaborator on a collaborative grant awarded by the French Government to Professor Pierre Hardouin. The grant is entitled 'BoneAHEAD' (Bone Adiposity in HEAlth and Diseases) and is aimed at establishing a pan-European network for further research into bone marrow adipose tissue, with the specific goal of obtaining EU funding for further research. Consistent with this, in 2016/2017 we applied for two EU calls: a COST Network grant, and an Innovative Training Network (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017). We were unsuccessful with these initial applications but have now submitted revised applications. We expect to hear the outcome by mid-2018. |
Collaborator Contribution | The initial funding application was led by Prof. Hardouin. He and I, as well as several other partners (e.g. Oxford, Erasmus, Alexander Fleming, Lille) have spearheaded the COST and ITN applications. |
Impact | We organised the First European meeting on Bone Marrow Adiposity (BMA2015) held in Lille, 28-29 August 2015 (http://bma2015.sciencesconf.org/). A summary of BMA2015 was published in the journal 'Bone' (http://www.thebonejournal.com/article/S8756-3282(15)00414-7/abstract) We then organised the second BMA meeting in Rotterdam in August 2016 (https://adiposity.sciencesconf.org/), a summary of which was published in the journal 'Adipocyte' ( We have written a summary of this meeting, which is to be published in the journal 'Adipocyte' (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21623945.2017.1313374). This was followed by BMA2017 in Lausanne in August-September 2017 (https://bma2017.sciencesconf.org/). In the build-up to BMA2017 we worked toward the creation of an International Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMAS). This was voted on at BMA2017 and is now in the process of being formally established as the first society focused on bone marrow adipose research (http://bma-society.org/) (https://twitter.com/BMA_Society) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Cherry collaboration (total-body PET) |
Organisation | University of California, Davis |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My lab is analysing total-body PET scans from Prof Cherry's lab, to determine glucose uptake into bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT), red marrow and bone. |
Collaborator Contribution | Prof Cherry's group has led the development and application of total-body PET scanning. They have provided us with data from their initial cohorts of total-body PET scans using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose. |
Impact | None so far. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Edwards collaboration |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases (NDORMS) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My lab is analysing bones from research conducted by Prof. Claire Edwards' group in Oxford. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners are providing bone samples from mouse models of multiple myeloma. My lab is analysing these to assess the impact on marrow adiposity |
Impact | We have analysed one set of preclinical samples and are awaiting further samples. I am also a collaborator named on a grant application from the Edwards lab. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Farquharson collaboration |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | The Roslin Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My lab has analysed bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) in mouse models of altered skeletal remodelling that were generated by Prof Farquharson's lab. To do so we have used our technique in which bones are stained with osmium tetroxide (to make the BMAT radio-dense) and then scanned by µCT to visualise the BMAT in 3D. As of February 2021, our analyses have contributed to three publications (as described below). |
Collaborator Contribution | Prof Farquharson's lab generated the mouse models and led the studies of these. They provided us with bones for BMAT analysis. |
Impact | Three publications: 10.1002/jbm4.10439, 10.1186/s12915-020-00880-7 and 10.1242/dmm.040659 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Fowler collaboration |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I co-supervised a Master's student in Dr Jill Fowler's lab (University of Edinburgh), with the research focusing on sex differences in the ability of caloric restriction (CR) to protect against cerebral ischaemia, and whether adiponectin knockout influences this effect of CR. Due to the COVID restrictions we had to modify the approach to this project, and therefore adapted it to use UK Biobank data to investigate the relationship between circulating adiponectin (a hormone produced from bone marrow adipose tissue) and stroke. In this project I provided expertise in use of the UK Biobank data, and also connections with my University of Edinburgh collaborators who have further expertise in these analyses. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Fowler secured funding for the Master's student and was lead supervisor on the initial project. Dr Fowler provided expertise in analysis of brain samples for pathways relating to ischaemic injury and neuroprotection. |
Impact | None so far. We are working on a manuscript reporting the impact of adiponectin on stroke. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Johnstone collaboration |
Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
Department | The Rowett Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My lab has analysed data from Prof Alexandra Johnstone's studies of dietary weight loss interventions in humans. We have analysed these data to assess sex differences in the weight loss response. |
Collaborator Contribution | Prof Johnstone's lab led the studies of diet-induced weight loss in overweight and obese humans. They coordinated all aspects of implementing and these studies. |
Impact | We are about to submit a manuscript that includes our analyses of Prof Johnstone's data. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | MRI-CT collaboration |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | Clinical Research Imaging Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My team analysed paired MRI and CT scans of human subjects, using the MRI data to identify regions of high and low bone marrow adiposity (BMA) and then co-registering these with the CT scans so that we could identify the attenuation coefficients (Hounsfield units) of the high- and low-BMA regions. |
Collaborator Contribution | The paired MRI and CT scans were obtained through studies led by Jack Andrews, Marc Dweck and Michelle Williams at the University of Edinburgh. They were able to provide these anonymised data to us for our studies of BMA. |
Impact | The outcomes of these studies are described in the following published article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-16878-2 |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | MacDougald/Scheller collaboration |
Organisation | University of Michigan |
Department | University of Michigan Medical School |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My team analysed results of rat and rabbit studies that were done in Prof Ormond MacDougald's lab at the University of Michigan, including work led by Dr Erica Scheller. |
Collaborator Contribution | Prof MacDougald's lab coordinated the studies in these animal models, including microarray analysis of rabbit samples, and in vivo studies in rats to assess the responsiveness of bone marrow adipose tissue to insulin. |
Impact | The outcomes of this collaboration are reported in the following publication: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-16878-2 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Poloni collaboration |
Organisation | Marche Polytechnic University |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My team and I analysed microarray data provided by Prof Antonella Poloni's lab |
Collaborator Contribution | Prof Poloni's lab had isolated adipocytes from bone marrow and white adipose tissue of human donors, and then conducted microarrays on these. They provided us with this microarray data for my lab to analyse for specific molecular pathways. |
Impact | This collaborative work is included in the following publication: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-16878-2 |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Zannettino collaboration |
Organisation | University of Adelaide |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Co-Investigator with Professor Andrew Zannettino (The University of Adelaide) on a project investigating mechanisms underlying the metabolic effects of caloric restriction. This collaboration has just been initiated, so our contributions will begin over the coming year. |
Collaborator Contribution | Prof Zannettino initiated the collaboration based on research findings from his lab, which highlighted potential metabolic functions of bone marrow adipose tissue. |
Impact | Prof Zannettino and I applied for funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council to support this collaborative research. To date, our applications have not been funded. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Article for The Endocrinologist magazine |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I was asked to write an article on my research for The Endocrinologist, the magazine for members of the Society for Endocrinology. The society has approximately 2,500 members and therefore this was a good opportunity to inform academics, students, clinicians and patients about the subject of my research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
URL | https://www.endocrinology.org/endocrinologist/126-winter17/features/why-are-our-bones-full-of-fat-th... |
Description | Article in Canadian Media |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Article in the Winnipeg Sun (which also appeared in the Toronto Sun and Vancouver Sun) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://winnipegsun.com/health/diet-fitness/women-45-and-older-could-have-better-weight-loss-success... |
Description | Article in Greek media |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Our research was highlighted in a news article in Saudi Arabia |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.makeleio.gr/ep??a???t?ta/?-?????a-?a?-t?-f???-ep??e?????-ta-ap?t/ |
Description | Article in Sky News Arabia |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Our research was highlighted in a news article in Saudi Arabia |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.skynewsarabia.com/technology/1615763-??????-???????-?????-????-?????-?????? |
Description | Changing World Conversations: Rethink travel for a healthier future |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Vehicle emissions are bad for heart health, one of the leading sources of air pollution in cities and a major contributor to climate change. Switching your petrol or diesel car for an electric one will help clean city air and tackle the climate emergency, but a more radical shift than switching cars could have much further reaching health benefits. Join Dr Mark Miller (Centre for Cardiovascular Science), Dr Will Cawthorn (Centre for Cardiovascular Science) and Professor Nanette Mutrie (Physical Activity for Health Research Centre) to explore why more active travel is better for the health of both people and the planet. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERqCY0NR6fo |
Description | Edinburgh International Science Festival 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I led a multi-day event at the 2023 Edinburgh International Science Festival, entitled "The many faces of fat and diabetes". The purpose was to inform the general public about diabetes and the many functions of adipose (fat) tissue, including how where we store fat influences our health. Over a 4-day period we had several hundred attendees. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.edinburghscience.co.uk/festival/ |
Description | Falkirk Science Festival 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I designed and led a public engagement event entitled "The Many Faces of Fat and Diabetes" at the 2022 Falkrik Science Festival, on 14/05/2022. The event delivered various interactive activities designed to increase the public's understanding about adipose tissue, metabolism, obesity and diabetes.The main questions that the researchers aimed to answer were: How does our body store fat? Is this always a bad thing? Is all fat the same? Is it just used to store energy, or does fat play other roles in our bodies? What are the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes? The festival visitors had a chance to measure the blood glucose levels, use a microscope to detect different types of fat and learn more about how different organs store fat tissue. Over the course of the day, we interacted with several hundred members of the public, who asked many questions and clearly learned a lot about the relationship between fat, diabetes and overall health. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/cardiovascular-science/public-involvement-resources/public-engagement-news/cvs-... |
Description | Interview for The Sun newspaper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed by The Sun newspaper about our study revealing sex differences in the health effects of caloric restriction. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.the-sun.com/health/7959597/men-lose-twice-weight-women-dieting-oestrogen/ |
Description | Interview for the Daily Mail |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for Daily Mail about our paper on sex differences in Caloric Restriction. Led to a piece in the Mail Online. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12010935/Diets-work-TWICE-MEN-age.html |