Endocrinol Metab.  2023 Apr;38(2):214-222. 10.3803/EnM.2023.1659.

Brown Adipose Tissue: Activation and Metabolism in Humans

• Hachemi I
• U-Din M

• KMID: 2541877
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2023.1659

Abstract

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a thermogenic organ contributing to non-shivering thermogenesis. BAT becomes active under cold stress via sympathetic nervous system activation. However, recent evidence has suggested that BAT may also be active at thermoneutrality and in a postprandial state. BAT has superior energy dissipation capacity compared to white adipose tissue (WAT) and muscles. Thus, it has been proposed that the recruitment and activation of additional BAT may increase the overall energy-expending capacity in humans, potentially improving current whole-body weight management strategies. Nutrition plays a central role in obesity and weight management. Thus, this review discusses human studies describing BAT hyper-metabolism after dietary interventions. Nutritional agents that can potentially recruit brown adipocytes via the process of BAT-WAT transdifferentiation are also discussed.

Keyword

Brown adipose tissue; Diet, food, and nutrition; Medical imaging; Metabolism

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Typical anatomical locations of brown fat in human adults, the stimulator/activators of brown fat thermogenesis in human adults, and the characteristic hallmarks of brown (beige/brite) adipocyte biology. BAT, brown adipose tissue; NE, norepinephrine; TRPA1, transient receptor potential ankyrin 1; TRPM8, transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8; SNS, sympathetic nervous system; DIO2, iodothyronine deiodinase 2; GLP-1, glucagon-like peptide-1; FGF21, fibroblast growth factor 21; PET-CT, positron emission tomography/computed tomography; UCP1, uncoupling protein-1.

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  Fig. 2. Diagrammatic representation of the mechanisms of the activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) that has been shown in humans. NEFA, non-esterified fatty acids; LPL, lipoprotein lipase; GLUT1, glucose transporter 1; GLUT4, glucose transporter 4; NA, noradrenaline; UCP1, uncoupling protein-1; TAG, triacylglycerol; IR, insulin receptor; SNS, sympathetic nervous system; TRPA1, transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1; TRPV1, transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1.

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