Is there a therapeutic opportunity to either prevent or treat osteopenic disorders by inhibiting marrow adipogenesis?

Bone marrow stromal tells can undergo adipogenesis or osteoblastogenesis in vitro and in vivo. This review explores the stromal cell's differentiation plasticity in the contest of osteoporosis and other metabolic hone disorders. Attention is focused on the apparent reciprocal relationship that is postulated to exist between the adipocyte and osteoblast phenotypes. The signal transduction pathways implicated in this process are evaluated as potential targets for therapeutic intervention and drug design. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.