Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yan-Ting Chen, Qi-Yuan Yang, Yun Hu, Xiang-Dong Liu, Jeanene M. de Avila, Mei-Jun Zhu, Peter W. Nathanielsz, Min Du
Summary: Maternal obesity affects fetal brown adipose tissue development, leading to metabolic dysfunction in female offspring. Activation of Dio3os can prevent intergenerational obesity and metabolic dysfunctions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lasse K. Markussen, Elizabeth A. Rondini, Olivia Sveidahl Johansen, Jesper G. S. Madsen, Elahu G. Sustarsic, Ann-Britt Marcher, Jacob B. Hansen, Zachary Gerhart-Hines, James G. Granneman, Susanne Mandrup
Summary: This study uncovers the transcriptional network controlled by lipolysis in brown adipocytes and shows that lipolysis is required for the activation of the thermogenic gene program by beta-adrenergic signals. PPARs are identified as key mediators of lipolysis-induced activation of lipid metabolism and thermogenic genes. Additionally, lipolysis also activates the unfolded protein response and regulates the core circadian transcriptional machinery independently of PPARs.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ruihao Li, Jordan C. Rozum, Morgan M. Quail, Mohammad N. Qasim, Suzanne S. Sindi, Clarissa J. Nobile, Reka Albert, Aaron D. Hernday
Summary: Genetic regulatory networks (GRNs) are crucial for controlling phenotypic characteristics of cells by regulating genetic information flow. Various methods exist for analyzing mRNA transcript levels and identifying protein-DNA binding interactions at a genome-wide scale, but uncovering the complete structure and regulatory logic of GRNs remains a challenge. The study introduces an evolutionary algorithm-based ODE modeling approach (EA) that integrates kinetic transcription data to infer GRN architecture and regulatory logic, outperforming existing methods in predicting regulatory connections among transcription factors (TFs). Additionally, the method demonstrates potential in predicting unknown transcriptional profiles upon genetic perturbation of a GRN governing a cellular phenotypic switch.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Myoung Seok Ko, Ji Young Yun, In-Jeoung Baek, Jung Eun Jang, Jung Jin Hwang, Seung Eun Lee, Seung-Ho Heo, David A. Bader, Chul-Ho Lee, Jaeseok Han, Jong-Seok Moon, Jae Man Lee, Eun-Gyoung Hong, In-Kyu Lee, Seong Who Kim, Joong Yeol Park, Sean M. Hartig, Un Jung Kang, David D. Moore, Eun Hee Koh, Ki-up Lee
Summary: This study revealed the role of a specific gene, pink1, in mitochondrial autophagy, where its deficiency induces dysfunction in brown adipose tissue and obesity. Surprisingly, the induction of NLRP3 did not lead to canonical inflammasome activity, but instead caused brown adipocyte precursors to differentiate into white-like adipocytes. These findings suggest a new mitochondria-NLRP3 pathway that contributes to BAT dysfunction and provide potential therapeutic targets for obesity-related metabolic diseases.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Morten Lundh, Ali Altintas, Marco Tozzi, Odile Fabre, Tao Ma, Farnaz Shamsi, Zachary Gerhart-Hines, Romain Barres, Yu-Hua Tseng, Brice Emanuelli
Summary: The scaffold protein Afadin is dynamically regulated by cold in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and plays a role in supporting the adrenergic response in brown adipocytes. Afadin depletion leads to decreased enrichment of gene sets controlling essential metabolic functions in BAT at thermoneutrality, and alters the reprogramming response to cold with enhanced enrichment of pathways related to metabolism and remodeling.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bruna B. Brandao, Ankita Poojari, Atefeh Rabiee
Summary: Research suggests that the generation and activation of thermogenic adipocytes may be beneficial in treating obesity and related metabolic diseases. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the formation and activation of brown and beige adipocytes is crucial for developing strategies to combat metabolic disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Sevag Hamamah, Arman Amin, Abdul Latif Al-Kassir, Judith Chuang, Mihai Covasa
Summary: Obesity is a complex disease that is becoming more prevalent worldwide. Recent research suggests that changes in gut microbiota, influenced by the consumption of dietary fats, play a key role in the development of obesity. These alterations in gut microbiota can affect important satiation signals, leading to hyperphagia and obesity. This review discusses the mechanisms by which gut microbiota influences satiation signals, the effects of dietary interventions on gut microbiota and satiety signals, and microbiota optimizing therapies to combat obesity.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Mami Matsushita, Shinsuke Nirengi, Masanobu Hibi, Hitoshi Wakabayashi, Sang-il Lee, Masayuki Domichi, Naoki Sakane, Masayuki Saito
Summary: The study revealed that human BAT activity is higher in the morning than in the evening, indicating a potential link between breakfast skipping and obesity-related metabolic disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Donghua Hu, Min Tan, Dongliang Lu, Brian Kleiboeker, Xuejing Liu, Hongsuk Park, Alexxai V. Kravitz, Kooresh I. Shoghi, Yu-Hua Tseng, Babak Razani, Akihiro Ikeda, Irfan J. Lodhi
Summary: Mitochondrial morphology, regulated by fission and fusion, plays a crucial role in the thermogenic capacity of brown adipocytes. TMEM135 has been identified as a critical mediator in the regulation of mitochondrial fission and thermogenesis, providing a potential target for therapeutic activation of brown adipose tissue.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Violeta I. Gallardo-Montejano, Chaofeng Yang, Lisa Hahner, John L. McAfee, Joshua A. Johnson, William L. Holland, Rodrigo Fernandez-Valdivia, Perry E. Bickel
Summary: Exposure to cold induces significant changes in brown adipose tissue, with a marked increase in PLIN5, which plays a crucial role in maintaining mitochondrial structure and respiratory function. Enhancing PLIN5 function in BAT may lead to healthy remodeling of white adipose tissue and improvements in systemic glucose tolerance and hepatic steatosis, making it a potential therapeutic target for metabolic disorders.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Liping Shen, Feng Tian, Zhukuan Cheng, Qiang Zhao, Qi Feng, Yan Zhao, Bin Han, Yuhan Fang, Yanan Lin, Rui Chen, Donghui Wang, Wenfeng Sun, Jiaqi Sun, Hongyun Zeng, Nan Yao, Ge Gao, Jingchu Luo, Zhihong Xu, Shunong Bai
Summary: This study reveals the important role of OsMADS58 in stamen development in rice by analyzing a CRISPR knockout mutant. It suggests that OsMADS58 may exert pleiotropic effects on stamen development by stabilizing gene regulatory circuits during early stages.
Article
Immunology
Zhaoqi Zhang, Elhusseny A. Bossila, Ling Li, Songnian Hu, Yong Zhao
Summary: This study used RNA-seq data to analyze transcriptome profiles and cell metabolism during monocyte development, revealing important genes and pathways involved in this process. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of monocyte development in bone marrow.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Pavan Brahmbhatt, Fatemeh Ataei, Ephraim E. Parent, Akash Sharma
Summary: Brown fat activation with increased radiotracer localization on FDG PET/CT studies is a well-known phenomenon. This case reports an atypically intense, multilobular FDG uptake in activated brown adipose tissue, likely caused by the patient's use of mirabegron, a known activator of brown fat. More information is needed on pharmacologic causes of increased brown fat uptake to improve interpretation of PET/CT studies.
CLINICAL NUCLEAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wenjing You, Ziye Xu, Wentao Chen, Xin Yang, Shiqi Liu, Liyi Wang, Yuang Tu, Yanbing Zhou, Teresa G. Valencak, Yizhen Wang, Shihuan Kuang, Tizhong Shan
Summary: This study established a novel model for brown adipose tissue (BAT) injury and regeneration and used single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing to reveal the cellular and transcriptomic dynamics during BAT regeneration. The study identified the involvement of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in BAT development.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Quancan Hou, Xueli An, Biao Ma, Suowei Wu, Xun Wei, Tingwei Yan, Yan Zhou, Taotao Zhu, Ke Xie, Danfeng Zhang, Ziwen Li, Lina Zhao, Canfang Niu, Yan Long, Chang Liu, Wei Zhao, Fei Ni, Jinping Li, Daolin Fu, Zhong-Nan Yang, Xiangyuan Wan
Summary: A previously unrecognized repressor, ZmMS1/ZmLBD30, was found to control pollen exine development in maize. It acts through an activation-feedback repression loop to regulate the proper level of exine.
