Role of adipose tissues in osteoarthritis

Abstract

Purpose of the review. Epidemiologic studies reveal that the link between obesity and osteoarthritis (OA) cannot be uniquely explained by overweight-associated mechanical overload.For this reason, much attention focuses on the endocrine activity of adipose tissues. In addition to the systemic role of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues, many arguments highlight the involvement of local adipose tissues in OA.Recent findings. Alteration in magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity of the infrapatellar fat pad may predict both accelerated knee OA and joint replacement. In this context, recent studies show that mesenchymal stromal cells could play a pivotal role in the pathological remodeling of intra-articular adipose tissues in OA. In parallel, recent findings underline bone marrow adipose tissue as a major player in the control of the bone microenvironment, suggesting its possible role in OA.Summary. The recent description of AT of various phenotypes within an osteoarthritic joint allows us to evoke their direct involvement in the initiation and progression of the osteoarthritic process. We can expect in the near future the discovery of novel molecules targeting these tissues.

Experimental evidence that physical activity inhibits osteoarthritis: Implications for inferring activity patterns from osteoarthritis in archeological human skeletons

“…First, routine physical activity may help prevent the accumulation of excess body weight, a well‐known risk factor for knee OA (Bendele & Hulman, 1991; Felson et al, 1988; Wluka et al, 2013). Excess body weight likely affects OA degeneration by producing a combination of adiposity‐induced metaflammation and abnormal joint loading (Berenbaum et al, 2018; Zapata‐Linares et al, 2021). In this study, body weight does not explain differences in knee OA degeneration between physically active and sedentary animals since body weights were similar between the two groups, but it remains possible that sedentary animals had greater relative adiposity, and hence adiposity‐induced metaflammation (Collins et al, 2021).…”

Association between metabolic syndrome and radiographic spine osteoarthritis: Cross‐sectional analysis using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

“…In addition, macrophages derived from adipose tissue produced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factorα, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6, in synovial fluid, cartilage, and subchondral bone. 35 This indicates that obesity and adipose tissue-deprived inflammatory mediators are crucial contributors in OA.…”

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes and MicroRNAs in Cartilage Regeneration: Biogenesis, Efficacy, miRNA Enrichment and Delivery

“…Several cell types have been recognized to aggravate the OA pathological process. These include osteoblasts of the subchondral bone [34], M1 macrophages [35] and fibroblasts of the synovial tissue [36], adipocytes of the infrapatel-lar pad [37], and senescent and hypertrophic chondrocytes [38,39]. In OA, these cells are dysfunctional, exhibiting aberrant gene expression profiles and phenotypes.…”