Advanced Science (Dec 2021)

Neuronal Induction of Bone‐Fat Imbalance through Osteocyte Neuropeptide Y

  • Yan Zhang,
  • Chun‐Yuan Chen,
  • Yi‐Wei Liu,
  • Shan‐Shan Rao,
  • Yi‐Juan Tan,
  • Yu‐Xuan Qian,
  • Kun Xia,
  • Jie Huang,
  • Xi‐Xi Liu,
  • Chun‐Gu Hong,
  • Hao Yin,
  • Jia Cao,
  • Shi‐Kai Feng,
  • Ze‐Hui He,
  • You‐You Li,
  • Zhong‐Wei Luo,
  • Ben Wu,
  • Zi‐Qi Yan,
  • Tuan‐Hui Chen,
  • Meng‐Lu Chen,
  • Yi‐Yi Wang,
  • Zhen‐Xing Wang,
  • Zheng‐Zhao Liu,
  • Ming‐Jie Luo,
  • Xiong‐Ke Hu,
  • Ling Jin,
  • Teng‐Fei Wan,
  • Tao Yue,
  • Si‐Yuan Tang,
  • Hui Xie

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202100808
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 24
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract A differentiation switch of bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BMSCs) from osteoblasts to adipocytes contributes to age‐ and menopause‐associated bone loss and marrow adiposity. Here it is found that osteocytes, the most abundant bone cells, promote adipogenesis and inhibit osteogenesis of BMSCs by secreting neuropeptide Y (NPY), whose expression increases with aging and osteoporosis. Deletion of NPY in osteocytes generates a high bone mass phenotype, and attenuates aging‐ and ovariectomy (OVX)‐induced bone‐fat imbalance in mice. Osteocyte NPY production is under the control of autonomic nervous system (ANS) and osteocyte NPY deletion blocks the ANS‐induced regulation of BMSC fate and bone‐fat balance. γ‐Oryzanol, a clinically used ANS regulator, significantly increases bone formation and reverses aging‐ and OVX‐induced osteocyte NPY overproduction and marrow adiposity in control mice, but not in mice lacking osteocyte NPY. The study suggests a new mode of neuronal control of bone metabolism through the ANS‐induced regulation of osteocyte NPY.

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