Turning the spotlight on bone marrow adipocytes in haematological malignancy and non-malignant conditions

Whilst bone marrow adipocytes (BMAd) have long been appreciated by clinical haemato-pathologists, it is only relatively recently, in the face of emerging data, that the adipocytic niche has come under the watchful eye of biologists. There is now mounting evidence to suggest that BMAds are not just a simple structural entity of bone marrow microenvironments but a bona fide driver of physio- and pathophysiological processes relevant to multiple aspects of health and disease. Whilst the truly multifaceted nature of BMAds has only just begun to emerge, paradigms have shifted already for normal, malignant and non-malignant haemopoiesis incorporating a view of adipocyte regulation. Major efforts are ongoing, to delineate the routes by which BMAds participate in health and disease with a final aim of achieving clinical tractability. This review summarises the emerging role of BMAds across the spectrum of normal and pathological haematological conditions with a particular focus on its impact on cancer therapy.

Automated summary

While bone marrow adipocytes (BMAd) have been recognized by clinical haemato-pathologists for a long time, biologists have only recently begun to study the role of the adipocytic niche. There is increasing evidence to suggest that BMAds are not just a structural component of bone marrow, but a key player in physiological and pathological processes related to health and disease. Efforts are being made to understand how BMAds contribute to health and disease, with the ultimate goal of developing clinical applications. This review summarizes the emerging role of BMAds in normal and pathological haematological conditions, with a focus on their impact on cancer therapy.