Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Siwen Xue, Derek Lee, Daniel C. Berry
Summary: The ability to generate thermogenic fat cells is a potential targeted therapy for obesity and metabolic health improvement. Brown and beige adipocytes, which regulate energy balance, share certain properties but also display unique features such as origin and regulatory processes. Beige adipocytes are highly plastic, responding to environmental stimuli and converting between different states. However, obese and aged individuals face hurdles in developing beige adipocytes, hindering therapeutic potential. Understanding the mechanisms behind thermogenic fat cells will enhance understanding of energy regulation and enable new targeted therapies. This review discusses recent advances and potential mechanisms for failure in thermogenic fat cell regulation.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yukimasa Takeda, Yoshinori Harada, Toshikazu Yoshikawa, Ping Dai
Summary: Brown fats specialize in thermogenesis by increasing the utilization of circulating blood glucose and fatty acids, and they prevent the incidence of obesity-associated metabolic diseases and several types of cancers in humans. Mitochondrial energy metabolism in brown/beige adipocytes regulates both uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-dependent and -independent thermogenesis, and the mass and activity of human BAT are inversely correlated with the body mass index (BMI) and visceral adiposity. Modulation of obesity-associated repression in human brown fats is a promising strategy to counteract obesity and related metabolic diseases through the activation of thermogenic capacity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Pei-Chi Chan, Li-Man Hung, Jiung-Pang Huang, Yuan-Ji Day, Chao-Lan Yu, Feng-Chih Kuo, Chieh-Hua Lu, Yu-Feng Tian, Po-Shiuan Hsieh
Summary: Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5) and its receptor CCR5 are highly expressed in obese individuals and are associated with inflammation and insulin resistance. This study shows that deletion of CCL5/CCR5 increases energy expenditure and thermogenic function in brown adipose tissue. Knockdown of this signaling pathway also improves insulin resistance caused by high-fat diet.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Abhijit Babaji Shinde, Anying Song, Qiong A. Wang
Summary: Brown adipocytes in BAT expend energy through uncoupling, playing important roles in glucose and lipid homeostasis, making them valuable therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders. Recent rediscovery of BAT depots in humans has reignited interest in using them as promising therapeutic interventions.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ruping Pan, Yong Chen
Summary: Obesity is characterized by the overaccumulation of white adipose tissue in the body, leading to various metabolic disorders. Targeting human thermogenic adipose tissues shows promise in combating obesity.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Md Shamim Rahman, Heejin Jun
Summary: This review explains the impact of fat types and tissue microenvironment on energy expenditure, focusing on the role and regulation of macrophages in adaptive thermogenic fat.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Minji Choi, Sulagna Mukherjee, Jong Won Yun
Summary: Trigonelline, a major alkaloid component of fenugreek, has potential as an anti-obesity compound by inducing browning of white adipocytes and improving lipid metabolism through regulation of gene and protein expression, as well as mitochondrial biogenesis pathways.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Maria A. Gonzalez Porras, Katerina Stojkova, Francisca M. Acosta, Christopher R. Rathbone, Eric M. Brey
Summary: This study presents a method for generating functional beige adipose microtissues from human microvascular fragments. These microtissues exhibit thermogenic gene markers and reproduce essential functions for potential therapeutic applications.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shih-Yi Lin, Ya-Yu Wang, Pin-Ho Pan, Jiaan-Der Wang, Ching-Ping Yang, Wen-Ying Chen, Yu-Hsiang Kuan, Su-Lan Liao, Yu-Li Lo, Yih-Hsin Chang, Chun-Jung Chen
Summary: This study investigated the effects of DHA on obesity-related inflammation and adipose tissue browning in obese mice. The results showed that DHA improved obesity phenotypes, including insulin resistance, inflammation, and macrophage polarization in the liver and adipose tissues. Furthermore, DHA alleviated dysregulated adipokines and impaired thermogenic and browning molecules, along with ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chad C. Doucette, Davide Barteselli, Daniel C. Nguyen, Sophia Blanchard, Mason Pelletier, Devesh Kesharwani, Ed Jachimowicz, Su Su, Michele Karolak, Aaron C. Brown
Summary: In this study, an optogenetic approach was used to activate UCP1-dependent thermogenesis in brown adipocytes. This system allows for precise, chemical free, temporal control of UCP1-dependent thermogenesis, which can contribute to our understanding of brown adipocyte biology and the development of therapies for obesity-related disorders.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jisun So, Solaema Taleb, Jamie Wann, Olivia Strobel, Kyungchan Kim, Hyun Cheol Roh
Summary: This study elucidated the unique dynamics of transcriptomic and epigenomic remodeling in adipocyte browning, providing new mechanistic insights into adipose thermogenesis and molecular targets for obesity treatment.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
A. Giordano, F. Cinti, R. Canese, G. Carpinelli, G. Colleluori, A. Di Vincenzo, G. Palombelli, I Severi, M. Moretti, C. Redaelli, J. Partridge, M. C. Zingaretti, A. Agostini, F. Sternardi, A. Giovagnoni, S. Castorina, S. Cinti
Summary: Obesity is a major cause of death worldwide, and understanding the adipose organ is crucial for studying its pathology and formulating therapeutic strategies. This study utilized various techniques such as anatomical dissections and medical imaging to demonstrate that white and brown adipose tissues form a large, unified structure that can be considered a true organ. This finding was confirmed in both mice and humans.
Article
Cell Biology
Songjoo Kang, Myoungsook Lee
Summary: The process of beiging controls the synergistic effects of salt and MEK6 on adipogenesis, inflammation, and energy expenditure. Salt treatment and MEK6 transfection significantly increase adipogenesis and inflammation in white adipocytes, but these effects are weakened in beige-like adipocytes.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Arthe Raajendiran, Christoph Krisp, David P. De Souza, Geraldine Ooi, Paul R. Burton, Renea A. Taylor, Mark P. Molloy, Matthew J. Watt
Summary: Adipose tissue plays a crucial role in energy balance and metabolism regulation, with differences in protein composition leading to metabolic variation in different regions. Upper-body adipocytes are associated with glycolysis, lipogenesis, and oxidative stress, while lower-body adipocytes show enhanced activation of PPARa and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation processes.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yue Sun, Jingxin Yao, Chang Lu, Nan Yang, Xiao Han, Haiyan Lin, Ye Yin
Summary: Promoting the thermogenic capacity of brown/beige adipocytes through the expression of PPA1 may be a promising strategy for combating obesity and related metabolic diseases. Our study showed that PPA1 is essential for mitochondrial function and adipocyte browning, and its deficiency leads to decreased thermogenic capacity and cold intolerance.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)