Brown fat-specific mitoribosomal function is crucial for preventing cold exposure-induced bone loss

Abstract

This study examines the interplay between ambient temperature, brown adipose tissue (BAT) function, and bone metabolism, emphasizing the effects of cold exposure and BAT mitochondrial activity on bone health. Utilizing ovariectomized (OVX) mice to model primary osteoporosis and BAT-specific mitochondrial dysfunction (BKO) mice, we evaluated the impact of housing temperature on bone density, immune modulation in bone marrow, and the protective role of BAT against bone loss. Cold exposure was found to universally reduce bone mass, enhance osteoclastogenesis, and alter bone marrow T-cell populations, implicating the immune system in bone remodeling under cold stress. The thermogenic function of BAT, driven by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, was crucial in protecting against bone loss. Impaired BAT function, through surgical removal or mitochondrial dysfunction, exacerbated bone loss in cold environments, highlighting BAT’s metabolic role in maintaining bone health. Furthermore, cold-induced changes in BAT function led to systemic metabolic shifts, including elevated long-chain fatty acids, which influenced osteoclast differentiation and activity. These findings suggest a systemic mechanism connecting environmental temperature and BAT metabolism with bone physiology, providing new insights into the metabolic and environmental determinants of bone health. Future research could lead to novel bone disease therapies targeting these pathways.