scholarly journals Human Brown Adipose Tissue and Metabolic Health: Potential for Therapeutic Avenues

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajan Singh ◽  
Albert Barrios ◽  
Golnaz Dirakvand ◽  
Shehla Pervin
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Metabolic Health ◽  
Increase Energy Expenditure ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Adult Humans ◽  
Treatment Of Obesity

Obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities comprise of a cluster of conditions including dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases that has affected more than 650 million people all over the globe. Obesity results from accumulation of white adipose tissues mainly due to the chronic imbalance of energy intake and energy expenditure. Variety of approaches to treat or prevent obesity, including lifestyle interventions, surgical weight loss procedures and pharmacological approaches to reduce energy intake and increase energy expenditure have failed to substantially decrease the prevalence of obesity. Brown adipose tissue (BAT), the primary source of thermogenesis in infants and small mammals may represent a promising therapeutic target to treat obesity by promoting energy expenditure through non-shivering thermogenesis mediated by mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Since the confirmation of functional BAT in adult humans by several groups, approximately a decade ago and its association with a favorable metabolic phenotype, intense interest on the significance of BAT in adult human physiology and metabolic health has emerged within the scientific community to explore its therapeutic potential for the treatment of obesity and metabolic diseases. Substantially decreased BAT activity in individuals with obesity indicates a role for BAT in setting of human obesity. On the other hand, BAT mass and its prevalence has been reported to correlate with lower body mass index (BMI), decreased age and glucose levels, leading to lower incidence of cardio metabolic diseases. Increased cold exposure in adult humans with undetectable BAT was associated with decreased body fat mass and increased insulin sensitivity. Deeper understanding of the role of BAT in human metabolic health and its inter-relationship with body fat distribution and deciphering proper strategies to increase energy expenditure by either increasing functional BAT mass, or inducing white adipose browning holds the promise for possible therapeutic avenues for the treatment of obesity and associated metabolic disorders.

scholarly journals Is brown adipose tissue a new target for obesity therapy?

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 2860
Author(s):  
O. M. Drapkina ◽  
O. T. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Lipid Homeostasis ◽  
Increase Energy Expenditure ◽  
Obesity Therapy ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Glucose And Lipid Homeostasis

The rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity and related diseases has prompted researchers to seek novel effective therapeutic targets. Recently, brown adipose tissue has been in the spotlight as a potential target for treatment of metabolic diseases due to its ability to increase energy expenditure and regulate glucose and lipid homeostasis. The review presents the latest data on approaches aimed at activating and expanding brown adipose tissue in order to combat obesity.

scholarly journals Impact of Adaptive Thermogenesis in Mice on the Treatment of Obesity

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianela Bastías-Pérez ◽  
Sebastián Zagmutt ◽  
M Carmen Soler-Vázquez ◽  
Dolors Serra ◽  
Paula Mera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Physiological Mechanisms ◽  
Adaptive Thermogenesis ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Adult Humans ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue Activity ◽  
Treatment Of Obesity

Obesity and associated metabolic diseases have become a priority area of study due to the exponential increase in their prevalence and the corresponding health and economic impact. In the last decade, brown adipose tissue has become an attractive target to treat obesity. However, environmental variables such as temperature and the dynamics of energy expenditure could influence brown adipose tissue activity. Currently, most metabolic studies are carried out at a room temperature of 21 °C, which is considered a thermoneutral zone for adult humans. However, in mice this chronic cold temperature triggers an increase in their adaptive thermogenesis. In this review, we aim to cover important aspects related to the adaptation of animals to room temperature, the influence of housing and temperature on the development of metabolic phenotypes in experimental mice and their translation to human physiology. Mice studies performed in chronic cold or thermoneutral conditions allow us to better understand underlying physiological mechanisms for successful, reproducible translation into humans in the fight against obesity and metabolic diseases.

scholarly journals Nutritional Regulation of Human Brown Adipose Tissue

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1748
Author(s):  
Karla J. Suchacki ◽  
Roland H. Stimson
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Disease ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Metabolic Health ◽  
Nutritional Regulation ◽  
Increase Energy Expenditure ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
The Impact

The recent identification of brown adipose tissue in adult humans offers a new strategy to increase energy expenditure to treat obesity and associated metabolic disease. While white adipose tissue (WAT) is primarily for energy storage, brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a thermogenic organ that increases energy expenditure to generate heat. BAT is activated upon cold exposure and improves insulin sensitivity and lipid clearance, highlighting its beneficial role in metabolic health in humans. This review provides an overview of BAT physiology in conditions of overnutrition (obesity and associated metabolic disease), undernutrition and in conditions of altered fat distribution such as lipodystrophy. We review the impact of exercise, dietary macronutrients and bioactive compounds on BAT activity. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of dietary manipulations or supplementation to increase energy expenditure and BAT thermogenesis. We conclude that chronic nutritional interventions may represent a useful nonpharmacological means to enhance BAT mass and activity to aid weight loss and/or improve metabolic health.

scholarly journals Protein kinase A induces UCP1 expression in specific adipose depots to increase energy expenditure and improve metabolic health

2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (1) ◽  
pp. R79-R88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorna M. Dickson ◽  
Shriya Gandhi ◽  
Brian T. Layden ◽  
Ronald N. Cohen ◽  
Barton Wicksteed
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Uncoupling Protein ◽  
Metabolic Health ◽  
Regulatory Subunit ◽  
Increase Energy Expenditure ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Β Cell Function ◽  
Pka Regulatory Subunit

Adipose tissue PKA has roles in adipogenesis, lipolysis, and mitochondrial function. PKA transduces the cAMP signal downstream of G protein-coupled receptors, which are being explored for therapeutic manipulation to reduce obesity and improve metabolic health. This study aimed to determine the overall physiological consequences of PKA activation in adipose tissue. Mice expressing an activated PKA catalytic subunit in adipose tissue (Adipoq-caPKA mice) showed increased PKA activity in subcutaneous, epididymal, and mesenteric white adipose tissue (WAT) depots and brown adipose tissue (BAT) compared with controls. Adipoq-caPKA mice weaned onto a high-fat diet (HFD) or switched to the HFD at 26 wk of age were protected from diet-induced weight gain. Metabolic health was improved, with enhanced insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, and β-cell function. Adipose tissue health was improved, with smaller adipocyte size and reduced macrophage engulfment of adipocytes. Using metabolic cages, we found that Adipoq-caPKA mice were shown to have increased energy expenditure, but no difference to littermate controls in physical activity or food consumption. Immunoblotting of adipose tissue showed increased expression of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) in BAT and dramatic UCP1 induction in subcutaneous WAT, but no induction in the visceral depots. Feeding a HFD increased PKA activity in epididymal WAT of wild-type mice compared with chow, but did not change PKA activity in subcutaneous WAT or BAT. This was associated with changes in PKA regulatory subunit expression. This study shows that adipose tissue PKA activity is sufficient to increase energy expenditure and indicates that PKA is a beneficial target in metabolic health.

scholarly journals Brown Adipose Tissue: A New Target for Antiobesity Therapy

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Anna Meiliana ◽  
Andi Wijaya
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
The Past ◽  
Obesity And Diabetes ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Adult Humans ◽  
Thermogenic Capacity

BACKGROUND: Human fat consist of white and brown adipose tissue (WAT and BAT). Though most fat is energy-storing WAT, the thermogenic capacity of even small amounts of BAT makes it an attractive therapeutic target for inducing weight loss through energy expenditure.CONTENT: Over the past year, several independent research teams used a combination of positron-emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging, immunohistochemistry and gene and protein expression assays to prove conclusively that adult humans have functional BAT. BAT is important for thermogenesis and energy balance in small mammals and its induction in mice promotes energy expenditure, reduces adiposity and protects mice from diet-induced obesity. The thermogenic capacity of BAT is impressive. In humans, it has been estimated that as little as 50g of BAT could utilize up to 20% of basal caloric needs if maximally stimulated.SUMMARY: The obesity pandemic requires new and novel treatments. The past few years have witnessed multiple studies conclusively showing that adult humans have functional BAT, a tissue that has a tremendous capacity for obesity-reducing thermogenesis. Novel therapies targeting BAT thermogenesis may be available in the near future as therapeutic options for obesity and diabetes. Thermogenic ingredients may be considered as functional agents that could help in preventing a positive energy balance and obesity.KEYWORDS: brown adipose tissue, thermogenesis, energy expenditure, antiobesity therapy

scholarly journals Brown adipose tissue, energy expenditure, and biomarkers of cardio-metabolic health among the Yakut (Sakha) of northeastern Siberia

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. e23175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie B. Levy ◽  
Tatiana M. Klimova ◽  
Raisa N. Zakharova ◽  
Afanasiy I. Federov ◽  
Valentina I. Fedorova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Metabolic Health ◽  
Northeastern Siberia ◽  
Brown Adipose

scholarly journals Allicin regulates energy homeostasis through brown adipose tissue

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuanhai Zhang ◽  
Xiaoyun He ◽  
Yao Sheng ◽  
Jia Xu ◽  
Cui Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Brown Adipocyte ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Treatment Of Obesity

AbstractBackground/objectives:Disorder of energy homeostasis can lead to a variety of metabolic diseases, especially obesity. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a promising potential therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases. Allicin, a main bioactive ingredient in garlic, has multiple biology and pharmacological function. However, the role of Allicin, in the regulation of metabolic organ, especially the role of activation of BAT, has not been well studied. Here, we analyzed the role of Allicin in whole-body metabolism and the activation of BAT.Results:Allicin had a significant effect in inhibiting body weight gain, decreasing adiposity, maintaining glucose homeostasis, improving insulin resistance, and ameliorating hepatic steatosis in diet-introduced obesity (DIO) mice. Then we find that Allicin can strongly activate brown adipose tissue (BAT). The activation of brown adipocyte treated with Allicin was also confirmed in mouse primary brown adipocytes.Conclusion:Allicin can ameliorate obesity through activating brown adipose tissue. Our findings provide a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders.

Functional characterization of human brown adipose tissue metabolism

2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (7) ◽  
pp. 1261-1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Anne Richard ◽  
Hannah Pallubinsky ◽  
Denis P. Blondin
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Human Infants ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Treatment Of Obesity ◽  
And Function

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has long been described according to its histological features as a multilocular, lipid-containing tissue, light brown in color, that is also responsive to the cold and found especially in hibernating mammals and human infants. Its presence in both hibernators and human infants, combined with its function as a heat-generating organ, raised many questions about its role in humans. Early characterizations of the tissue in humans focused on its progressive atrophy with age and its apparent importance for cold-exposed workers. However, the use of positron emission tomography (PET) with the glucose tracer [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) made it possible to begin characterizing the possible function of BAT in adult humans, and whether it could play a role in the prevention or treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). This review focuses on the in vivo functional characterization of human BAT, the methodological approaches applied to examine these features and addresses critical gaps that remain in moving the field forward. Specifically, we describe the anatomical and biomolecular features of human BAT, the modalities and applications of non-invasive tools such as PET and magnetic resonance imaging coupled with spectroscopy (MRI/MRS) to study BAT morphology and function in vivo, and finally describe the functional characteristics of human BAT that have only been possible through the development and application of such tools.

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