Brown and beige adipose tissues: phenotype and metabolic potential in mice and men

Kanta Chechi, Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt, Denis Richard*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

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Abstract

With the recent rediscovery of brown fat in adult humans, our outlook on adipose tissue biology has undergone a paradigm shift. While we attempt to identify, recruit, and activate classic brown fat stores in humans, identification of beige fat has also raised the possibility of browning our white fat stores. Whether such transformation of human white fat depots can be achieved to enhance the whole body oxidative potential remains to be seen. Evidence to date, however, largely points toward a major oxidative role only for classic brown fat depots, at least in rodents. White fat stores seem to provide the main fuel for sustaining thermogenesis via lipolysis. Interestingly, molecular markers consistent with both classic brown and beige fat identity can be observed in human supraclavicular depot, thereby complicating the discussion on beige fat in humans. Here, we review the recent advances made in our understanding of brown and beige fat in humans and mice. We further provide an overview of their plausible physiological relevance to whole body energy metabolism.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)482-496
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Applied Physiology
Volume124
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2018

Keywords

  • brown fat
  • beige fat
  • thermogenesis
  • sympathetic nervous system
  • DIET-INDUCED THERMOGENESIS
  • UNCOUPLING PROTEIN-1 GENE
  • CENTRAL SENSORY CIRCUITS
  • NERVOUS-SYSTEM OUTFLOW
  • FATTY-ACID OXIDATION
  • WHITE FAT
  • ENERGY-EXPENDITURE
  • NONSHIVERING THERMOGENESIS
  • ADULT HUMANS
  • GLUCOSE-HOMEOSTASIS

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