Fatty infiltration in the musculoskeletal system: pathological mechanisms and clinical implications

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024 Jun 28:15:1406046. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1406046. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Fatty infiltration denotes the anomalous accrual of adipocytes in non-adipose tissue, thereby generating toxic substances with the capacity to impede the ordinary physiological functions of various organs. With aging, the musculoskeletal system undergoes pronounced degenerative alterations, prompting heightened scrutiny regarding the contributory role of fatty infiltration in its pathophysiology. Several studies have demonstrated that fatty infiltration affects the normal metabolism of the musculoskeletal system, leading to substantial tissue damage. Nevertheless, a definitive and universally accepted generalization concerning the comprehensive effects of fatty infiltration on the musculoskeletal system remains elusive. As a result, this review summarizes the characteristics of different types of adipose tissue, the pathological mechanisms associated with fatty infiltration in bone, muscle, and the entirety of the musculoskeletal system, examines relevant clinical diseases, and explores potential therapeutic modalities. This review is intended to give researchers a better understanding of fatty infiltration and to contribute new ideas to the prevention and treatment of clinical musculoskeletal diseases.

Keywords: adipose tissue; aging; fatty infiltration; lipotoxicity; musculoskeletal system.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Adipocytes / pathology
  • Adipose Tissue* / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue* / pathology
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases* / metabolism
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases* / pathology
  • Musculoskeletal System* / metabolism
  • Musculoskeletal System* / pathology
  • Musculoskeletal System* / physiopathology

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82074458,82174411). This research is also sponsored by Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20221351, BK20220470), Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher education Institution of China (22KJB360012), Foundation of Wuxi Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology(Y20212043), A Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine), and Foundation of Jiangsu CM Clinical Innovation Center of Degenerative Bone & Joint Disease (Jiangsu science and education of traditional Chinese medicine [2021] No.4).