Poster #083
Butyrate and SSCs: Probing Gut–Bone Communication in Aging
Mentor: Kelly Weldon, Thomas Ambrosi, PhD
Aging impairs bone health, increasing disability and mortality, due to inflammation and deterioration of bone marrow and remodeling—processes regulated by skeletal stem cells (SSCs). While the gut microbiome is known to influence bone health, its role in skeletal aging remains unclear. Findings from our lab suggest a link between aging gut microbiome and declining SSC function. However, specific microbial metabolites involved in this communication are unknown. One literature candidate is butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by a healthy gut microbiome and beneficial to other organ systems. Yet, butyrate receptor expression in SSCs is low. To investigate this, we cultured mouse and human SSCs with varying butyrate concentrations and induced osteogenesis. We expect no significant changes in osteogenic potential, supporting the hypothesis that SSCs do not directly respond to butyrate. These findings would prompt investigation into alternative metabolite pathways that may mediate gut–bone communication and inform treatments for bone aging.