Gender- and Age-Associated Differences in Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Bone Marrow Fat Unsaturation Throughout the Skeleton, Quantified Using Chemical Shift Encoding-Based Water–Fat MRI
Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) is a dynamic tissue which is associated with osteoporosis, bone metastasis, and primary bone tumors. The aim of this study is to determine region-specific variations and age- and gender-specific differences in BMAT and BMAT composition in healthy subjects. In this c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Endocrinology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.815835/full |
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| author | Kerensa M. Beekman Kerensa M. Beekman Martine Regenboog Martine Regenboog Aart J. Nederveen Nathalie Bravenboer Nathalie Bravenboer Martin den Heijer Peter H. Bisschop Carla E. Hollak Erik M. Akkerman Mario Maas |
| author_facet | Kerensa M. Beekman Kerensa M. Beekman Martine Regenboog Martine Regenboog Aart J. Nederveen Nathalie Bravenboer Nathalie Bravenboer Martin den Heijer Peter H. Bisschop Carla E. Hollak Erik M. Akkerman Mario Maas |
| author_sort | Kerensa M. Beekman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) is a dynamic tissue which is associated with osteoporosis, bone metastasis, and primary bone tumors. The aim of this study is to determine region-specific variations and age- and gender-specific differences in BMAT and BMAT composition in healthy subjects. In this cross-sectional study, we included 40 healthy subjects (26 male: mean age 49 years, range 22–75 years; 14 female: mean age 50 years, range 29–71) and determined the bone marrow signal fat fraction and bone marrow unsaturation in the spine (C3-L5), pelvis, femora, and tibiae using chemical shift encoding-based water–fat imaging (WFI) with multiple gradient echoes (mGRE). Regions of interest covered the individual vertebral bodies, pelvis and proximal epimetaphysis, diaphysis, and distal epimetaphysis of the femur and tibia. The spinal fat fraction increased from cervical to lumbar vertebral bodies (mean fat fraction ( ± SD or (IQR): cervical spine 0.37 ± 0.1; thoracic spine 0.41 ± 0.08. lumbar spine 0.46 ± 0.01; p < 0.001). The femoral fat fraction increased from proximal to distal (proximal 0.78 ± 0.09; diaphysis 0.86 (0.15); distal 0.93 ± 0.02; p < 0.001), while within the tibia the fat fraction decreased from proximal to distal (proximal 0.92 ± 0.01; diaphysis 0.91 (0.02); distal 0.90 ± 0.01; p < 0.001). In female subjects, age was associated with fat fraction in the spine, pelvis, and proximal femur (ρ = 0.88 p < 0.001; ρ = 0.87 p < 0.001; ρ = 0.63 p = 0.02; ρ = 0.74 p = 0.002, respectively), while in male subjects age was only associated with spinal fat fraction (ρ = 0.40 p = 0.04). Fat fraction and unsaturation were negatively associated within the spine (r = -0.40 p = 0.01), while in the extremities fat fraction and unsaturation were positively associated (distal femur: r = 0.42 p = 0.01; proximal tibia: r = 0.47, p = 0.002; distal tibia: r = 0.35 p = 0.03), both independent of age and gender. In conclusion, we confirm the distinct, age- and gender-dependent, distribution of BMAT throughout the human skeleton and we show that, contradicting previous animal studies, bone marrow unsaturation in human subjects is highest within the axial skeleton compared to the appendicular skeleton. Furthermore, we show that BMAT unsaturation was negatively correlated with BMAT within the spine, while in the appendicular skeleton, BMAT and BMAT unsaturation were positively associated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:06:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1a53b0ed1e1446749da2893e20a5bb62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-2392 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:06:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Endocrinology |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a53b0ed1e1446749da2893e20a5bb622022-12-22T01:09:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922022-04-011310.3389/fendo.2022.815835815835Gender- and Age-Associated Differences in Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Bone Marrow Fat Unsaturation Throughout the Skeleton, Quantified Using Chemical Shift Encoding-Based Water–Fat MRIKerensa M. Beekman0Kerensa M. Beekman1Martine Regenboog2Martine Regenboog3Aart J. Nederveen4Nathalie Bravenboer5Nathalie Bravenboer6Martin den Heijer7Peter H. Bisschop8Carla E. Hollak9Erik M. Akkerman10Mario Maas11Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Endocrinology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit University, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Chemistry, Research Laboratory Bone and Calcium Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit University, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, NetherlandsDepartment of Endocrinology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit University, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsBone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) is a dynamic tissue which is associated with osteoporosis, bone metastasis, and primary bone tumors. The aim of this study is to determine region-specific variations and age- and gender-specific differences in BMAT and BMAT composition in healthy subjects. In this cross-sectional study, we included 40 healthy subjects (26 male: mean age 49 years, range 22–75 years; 14 female: mean age 50 years, range 29–71) and determined the bone marrow signal fat fraction and bone marrow unsaturation in the spine (C3-L5), pelvis, femora, and tibiae using chemical shift encoding-based water–fat imaging (WFI) with multiple gradient echoes (mGRE). Regions of interest covered the individual vertebral bodies, pelvis and proximal epimetaphysis, diaphysis, and distal epimetaphysis of the femur and tibia. The spinal fat fraction increased from cervical to lumbar vertebral bodies (mean fat fraction ( ± SD or (IQR): cervical spine 0.37 ± 0.1; thoracic spine 0.41 ± 0.08. lumbar spine 0.46 ± 0.01; p < 0.001). The femoral fat fraction increased from proximal to distal (proximal 0.78 ± 0.09; diaphysis 0.86 (0.15); distal 0.93 ± 0.02; p < 0.001), while within the tibia the fat fraction decreased from proximal to distal (proximal 0.92 ± 0.01; diaphysis 0.91 (0.02); distal 0.90 ± 0.01; p < 0.001). In female subjects, age was associated with fat fraction in the spine, pelvis, and proximal femur (ρ = 0.88 p < 0.001; ρ = 0.87 p < 0.001; ρ = 0.63 p = 0.02; ρ = 0.74 p = 0.002, respectively), while in male subjects age was only associated with spinal fat fraction (ρ = 0.40 p = 0.04). Fat fraction and unsaturation were negatively associated within the spine (r = -0.40 p = 0.01), while in the extremities fat fraction and unsaturation were positively associated (distal femur: r = 0.42 p = 0.01; proximal tibia: r = 0.47, p = 0.002; distal tibia: r = 0.35 p = 0.03), both independent of age and gender. In conclusion, we confirm the distinct, age- and gender-dependent, distribution of BMAT throughout the human skeleton and we show that, contradicting previous animal studies, bone marrow unsaturation in human subjects is highest within the axial skeleton compared to the appendicular skeleton. Furthermore, we show that BMAT unsaturation was negatively correlated with BMAT within the spine, while in the appendicular skeleton, BMAT and BMAT unsaturation were positively associated.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.815835/fullbone marrow adipose tissuebone marrow fat unsaturationbone marrow adipose tissue distributionhealthy subjectswater–fat MR imaging |
| spellingShingle | Kerensa M. Beekman Kerensa M. Beekman Martine Regenboog Martine Regenboog Aart J. Nederveen Nathalie Bravenboer Nathalie Bravenboer Martin den Heijer Peter H. Bisschop Carla E. Hollak Erik M. Akkerman Mario Maas Gender- and Age-Associated Differences in Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Bone Marrow Fat Unsaturation Throughout the Skeleton, Quantified Using Chemical Shift Encoding-Based Water–Fat MRI Frontiers in Endocrinology bone marrow adipose tissue bone marrow fat unsaturation bone marrow adipose tissue distribution healthy subjects water–fat MR imaging |
| title | Gender- and Age-Associated Differences in Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Bone Marrow Fat Unsaturation Throughout the Skeleton, Quantified Using Chemical Shift Encoding-Based Water–Fat MRI |
| title_full | Gender- and Age-Associated Differences in Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Bone Marrow Fat Unsaturation Throughout the Skeleton, Quantified Using Chemical Shift Encoding-Based Water–Fat MRI |
| title_fullStr | Gender- and Age-Associated Differences in Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Bone Marrow Fat Unsaturation Throughout the Skeleton, Quantified Using Chemical Shift Encoding-Based Water–Fat MRI |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender- and Age-Associated Differences in Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Bone Marrow Fat Unsaturation Throughout the Skeleton, Quantified Using Chemical Shift Encoding-Based Water–Fat MRI |
| title_short | Gender- and Age-Associated Differences in Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue and Bone Marrow Fat Unsaturation Throughout the Skeleton, Quantified Using Chemical Shift Encoding-Based Water–Fat MRI |
| title_sort | gender and age associated differences in bone marrow adipose tissue and bone marrow fat unsaturation throughout the skeleton quantified using chemical shift encoding based water fat mri |
| topic | bone marrow adipose tissue bone marrow fat unsaturation bone marrow adipose tissue distribution healthy subjects water–fat MR imaging |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.815835/full |
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