Adaptive thermogenesis in adipocytes: is beige the new brown?

Abstract

One of the most promising areas in the therapeutics for metabolic diseases centers around activation of the pathways of energy expenditure. Brown adipose tissue is a particularly appealing target for increasing energy expenditure, given its amazing capacity to transform chemical energy into heat. In addition to classical brown adipose tissue, the last few years have seen great advances in our understanding of inducible thermogenic adipose tissue, also referred to as beige fat. A deeper understanding of the molecular processes involved in the development and function of these cell types may lead to new therapeutics for obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases.

• Authors: Jun Wu, Paul Cohen, Bruce M Spiegelman
• Journal: Genes & development (Genes Dev) Vol. 27 Issue 3 Pg. 234-50 (Feb 01 2013) ISSN: 1549-5477 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23388824 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Ion Channels
• Mitochondrial Proteins
• Uncoupling Protein 1

Topics

• Adaptation, Physiological (genetics)
• Adipocytes (metabolism)
• Adipose Tissue, Brown (cytology, metabolism)
• Animals
• Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
• Humans
• Ion Channels (genetics, metabolism)
• Mitochondrial Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Obesity (metabolism)
• Thermogenesis (genetics, physiology)
• Uncoupling Protein 1