Chronic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) activation of epididymally derived white adipocyte cultures reveals a population of thermogenically competent, UCP1-containing adipocytes molecularly distinct from classic brown adipocytes

Developmental origins of the adipocyte lineage: new insights from genetics and genomics studies

The current epidemic of obesity and overweight has caused a surge of interest in the study of adipose tissue formation. Much progress has been made in defining the transcriptional networks controlling the terminal differentiation of adipocyte progenitors into mature adipocytes. However, the early steps of adipocyte development and the embryonic origin of this lineage have been largely disregarded until recently. In mammals, two functionally different types of adipose tissues coexist, which are both involved in energy balance but assume opposite functions. White adipose tissue (WAT) stores energy, while brown adipose tissue (BAT) is specialized in energy expenditure. WAT and BAT can be found as several depots located in various sites of the body. Individual fat depots exhibit different timing of appearance during development, as well as distinct functional properties, suggesting possible differences in their developmental origin. This hypothesis has recently been revisited through large-scale genomics studies and in vivo lineage tracing approaches, which are reviewed in this report. These studies have provided novel fundamental insights into adipocyte biology, pointing out distinct developmental origins for WAT and BAT, as well as for individual WAT depots. They suggest that the adipose tissue is composed of distinct mini-organs, exhibiting developmental and functional differences, as well as variable contribution to obesity-related metabolic diseases.

Adipose tissue development during early life: novel insights into energy balance from small and large mammals

Since the rediscovery of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adult human subjects in 2007, there has been a dramatic resurgence in research interest in its role in heat production and energy balance. This has coincided with a reassessment of the origins of BAT and the suggestion that brown preadipocytes could share a common lineage with skeletal myoblasts. In precocial newborns, such as sheep, the onset of non-shivering thermogenesis through activation of the BAT-specific uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is essential for effective adaptation to the cold exposure of the extra-uterine environment. This is mediated by a combination of endocrine adaptations which accompany normal parturition at birth and further endocrine stimulation from the mother's milk. Three distinct adipose depots have been identified in all species studied to date. These contain either primarily white, primarily brown or a mix of brown and white adipocytes. The latter tissue type is present, at least, in the fetus and, thereafter, appears to take on the characteristics of white adipose tissue during postnatal development. It is becoming apparent that a range of organ-specific mechanisms can promote UCP1 expression. They include the liver, heart and skeletal muscle, and involve unique endocrine systems that are stimulated by cold exposure and/or exercise. These multiple pathways that promote BAT function vary with age and between species that may determine the potential to be manipulated in early life. Such interventions could modify, or reverse, the normal ontogenic pathway by which BAT disappears after birth, thereby facilitating BAT thermogenesis through the life cycle.

Impaired thermogenesis and adipose tissue development in mice with fat-specific disruption of insulin and IGF-1 signalling

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) have important roles in adipocyte differentiation, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Here to assess how these pathways can compensate for each other, we created mice with a double tissue-specific knockout of insulin and IGF-1 receptors to eliminate all insulin/IGF-1 signalling in fat. These FIGIRKO mice had markedly decreased white and brown fat mass and were completely resistant to high fat diet-induced obesity and age- and high fat diet-induced glucose intolerance. Energy expenditure was increased in FIGIRKO mice despite a >85% reduction in brown fat mass. However, FIGIRKO mice were unable to maintain body temperature when placed at 4 °C. Brown fat activity was markedly decreased in FIGIRKO mice but was responsive to β3-receptor stimulation. Thus, insulin/IGF-1 signalling has a crucial role in the control of brown and white fat development, and, when disrupted, leads to defective thermogenesis and a paradoxical increase in basal metabolic rate.

Adipose tissue and fetal programming

Adipose tissue function changes with development. In the newborn, brown adipose tissue (BAT) is essential for ensuring effective adaptation to the extrauterine environment, and its growth during gestation is largely dependent on glucose supply from the mother to the fetus. The amount, location and type of adipose tissue deposited can also determine fetal glucose homeostasis. Adipose tissue first appears at around mid-gestation. Total adipose mass then increases through late gestation, when it comprises a mixture of white and brown adipocytes. BAT possesses a unique uncoupling protein, UCP1, which is responsible for the rapid generation of large amounts of heat at birth. Then, during postnatal life some, but not all, depots are replaced by white fat. This process can be utilised to investigate the physiological conversion of brown to white fat, and how it is re-programmed by nutritional changes in pre- and postnatal environments. A reduction in early BAT deposition may perpetuate through the life cycle, thereby suppressing energy expenditure and ultimately promoting obesity. Normal fat development profiles in the offspring are modified by changes in maternal diet at defined stages of pregnancy, ultimately leading to adverse long-term outcomes. For example, excess macrophage accumulation and the onset of insulin resistance occur in an adipose tissue depot-specific manner in offspring born to mothers fed a suboptimal diet from early to mid-gestation. In conclusion, the growth of the different fetal adipose tissue depots varies according to maternal diet and, if challenged in later life, this can contribute to insulin resistance and impaired glucose homeostasis.

Early induction of a brown-like phenotype by rosiglitazone in the epicardial adipose tissue of fatty Zucker rats

The epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is "hypertrophied" in the obese. Thiazolidinediones are anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic drugs and are selective agonists for the gamma isoform of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ). We evaluated the short-term effects of the prototype rosiglitazone (RSG, 5 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 4 days) on the expression of the genes and proteins (by real-time PCR and Western blot) involved in fatty acid (FA) metabolism in EAT of the obese fatty Zucker rat and compared the levels of expression with those in retroperitoneal adipose tissue (RAT). The glyceroneogenic flux leading to fatty acid re-esterification was assessed by the incorporation of 14C from [1-14C]-pyruvate into neutral lipids. RSG upregulated the mRNA for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4, glycerol kinase, adipocyte lipid binding protein, adipose tissue triglyceride lipase and lipoprotein lipase in both RAT and EAT with a resulting increase in glyceroneogenesis that, however, was more pronounced in EAT than in RAT. Under RSG, fatty acid output was decreased in both tissues but unexpectedly less so in EAT than in RAT. RSG also induced the expression of the key genes for fatty acid oxidation [carnitinepalmitoyl transferase-1, medium chain acyl dehydrogenase and very long chain acyl dehydrogenase (VLCAD)]in EAT and RAT with a resulting significant rise of  the expression of VLCAD protein. In addition, the expression of the genes encoding proteins involved in mitochondrial processing and density PPARγ coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), NADH dehydrogenase 1 and cytochrome oxidase (COX4) were increased by RSG treatment only in EAT, with a resulting significant up-regulation of PGC1-α and COX4 protein. This was accompanied by a rise in the expression of PR domain containing 16 and uncoupling protein 1, two brown adipose tissue-specific proteins. In conclusion, this study reveals that PPAR-γ agonist could induce a rapid browning of the EAT that probably contributes to the increase in lipid turnover.

Essential role for miR-196a in brown adipogenesis of white fat progenitor cells

Brown adipocytes can differentiate from white fat progenitor cells in mice exposed to cold or β3-adrenergic stimulation, and this process is regulated by a microRNA that regulates the expression of Hoxc8, a master regulator of brown adipogenesis.

The recent discovery of functional brown adipocytes in adult humans illuminates the potential of these cells in the treatment of obesity and its associated diseases. In rodents, brown adipocyte-like cells are known to be recruited in white adipose tissue (WAT) by cold exposure or β-adrenergic stimulation, but the molecular machinery underlying this phenomenon is not fully understood. Here, we show that inducible brown adipogenesis is mediated by the microRNA miR-196a. We found that miR-196a suppresses the expression of the white-fat gene Hoxc8 post-transcriptionally during the brown adipogenesis of white fat progenitor cells. In mice, miR-196a is induced in the WAT-progenitor cells after cold exposure or β-adrenergic stimulation. The fat-specific forced expression of miR-196a in mice induces the recruitment of brown adipocyte-like cells in WAT. The miR-196a transgenic mice exhibit enhanced energy expenditure and resistance to obesity, indicating the induced brown adipocyte-like cells are metabolically functional. Mechanistically, Hoxc8 targets and represses C/EBPβ, a master switch of brown-fat gene program, in cooperation with histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) through the C/EBPβ 3′ regulatory sequence. Thus, miR-196a induces functional brown adipocytes in WAT through the suppression of Hoxc8, which functions as a gatekeeper of the inducible brown adipogenesis. The miR-196a-Hoxc8-C/EBPβ signaling pathway may be a therapeutic target for inducing brown adipogenesis to combat obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Obesity is caused by the accumulation of surplus energy in a fatty tissue called white adipose tissue (WAT) and can lead to important health problems such as diabetes. Mammals additionally possess brown adipose tissue (BAT), which serves to generate body heat to stabilize body temperature under exposure to cold, and is abundant in hibernating animals and human neonates. In performing its function BAT consumes energy, thereby reducing WAT fat accumulation. Recent studies have shown that exposure to a cold environment stimulates the partial conversion of WAT to BAT in mice, and given that human adults have a limited amount of BAT, such a conversion has the potential to afford a novel method of obesity control. Here, we analyze the molecular mechanism of this conversion using genetically manipulated mice and cells isolated from human adipose tissue. We find that the expression levels of a microRNA, miR-196a, positively correlate with the conversion of WAT to BAT under cold exposure conditions. We show that forced expression of miR-196a in mouse adipose tissue increases BAT content and energy expenditure, thereby rendering the animals resistant to obesity and diabetes. Mechanistically, we observe that miR-196a acts by inhibiting the expression of the homeotic gene Hoxc8, a repressor of brown adipogenesis. These findings introduce the therapeutic possibility of using microRNAs to control obesity and its associated diseases in humans.

In vivo identification of bipotential adipocyte progenitors recruited by β3-adrenoceptor activation and high-fat feeding

Nutritional and pharmacological stimuli can dramatically alter the cellular phenotypes in white adipose tissue (WAT). Utilizing genetic lineage tracing techniques, we demonstrate that brown adipocytes (BA) that are induced by β3-adrenergic receptor activation in abdominal WAT arise from the proliferation and differentiation of cells expressing platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα), CD34, and Sca-1 (PDGFRα(+) cells). PDGFRα(+) cells have a unique morphology in which extended processes contact multiple cells in the tissue microenvironment. Surprisingly, these cells also give rise to white adipocytes (WA) that can comprise up to 25% of total fat cells in abdominal fat pads following 8 weeks of high-fat feeding. Isolated PDGFRα(+) cells differentiated into both BA and WA in vitro and generated WA after transplantation in vivo. The identification of PDGFRα(+) cells as bipotential adipocyte progenitors will enable further investigation of mechanisms that promote therapeutic cellular remodeling in adult WAT.

Autotaxin and its product lysophosphatidic acid suppress brown adipose differentiation and promote diet-induced obesity in mice

Brown adipose tissue is a thermogenic organ that dissipates stored energy as heat to maintain body temperature. This process may also provide protection from development of diet-induced obesity. We report that the bioactive lipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) markedly decreases differentiation of cultured primary brown adipocyte precursors, whereas potent selective inhibitors of the LPA-generating enzyme autotaxin (ATX) promote differentiation. Transgenic mice overexpressing ATX exhibit reduced expression of brown adipose tissue-related genes in peripheral white adipose tissue and accumulate significantly more fat than wild-type controls when fed a high-fat diet. Our results indicate that ATX and its product LPA are physiologically relevant negative regulators of brown fat adipogenesis and are consistent with a model in which a decrease in mature peripheral brown adipose tissue results in increased susceptibility to diet-induced obesity in mice.

Variations in T(2)* and fat content of murine brown and white adipose tissues by chemical-shift MRI

PURPOSE

The purpose was to compare T(2)* relaxation times and proton density fat-fraction (PDFF) values between brown (BAT) and white (WAT) adipose tissue in lean and ob/ob mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A group of lean male mice (n=6) and two groups of ob/ob male mice placed on similar 4-week (n=6) and 8-week (n=8) ad libitum diets were utilized. The animals were imaged at 3 T using a T(2)*-corrected chemical-shift-based water-fat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method that provides simultaneous estimation of T(2)* and PDFF on a voxel-wise basis. Regions of interest were drawn within the interscapular BAT and gonadal WAT depots on co-registered T(2)* and PDFF maps. Measurements were assessed using analysis of variance, Bonferroni-adjusted t test for multigroup comparisons and the Tukey post hoc test.

RESULTS

Significant differences (P<.01) in BAT T(2)* and PDFF were observed between the lean and ob/ob groups. The ob/ob animals exhibited longer BAT T(2)* and greater PDFF than lean animals. However, only BAT PDFF was significantly different (P<.01) between the two ob/ob groups. When comparing BAT to WAT within each group, T(2)* and PDFF values were consistently lower in BAT than WAT (P<.01). The difference was most prominent in the lean animals. In both ob/ob groups, BAT exhibited very WAT-like appearances and properties on the MRI images.

CONCLUSION

T(2)* and PDFF are lower in BAT than WAT. This is likely due to variations in tissue composition. The values were consistently lower in lean mice than in ob/ob mice, suggestive of the former's greater demand for BAT thermogenesis and reflective of leptin hormone deficiencies and diminished BAT metabolic activity in the latter.

FGF21 regulates PGC-1α and browning of white adipose tissues in adaptive thermogenesis

Certain white adipose tissue (WAT) depots are readily able to convert to a "brown-like" state with prolonged cold exposure or exposure to β-adrenergic compounds. This process is characterized by the appearance of pockets of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-positive, multilocular adipocytes and serves to increase the thermogenic capacity of the organism. We show here that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) plays a physiologic role in this thermogenic recruitment of WATs. In fact, mice deficient in FGF21 display an impaired ability to adapt to chronic cold exposure, with diminished browning of WAT. Adipose-derived FGF21 acts in an autocrine/paracrine manner to increase expression of UCP1 and other thermogenic genes in fat tissues. FGF21 regulates this process, at least in part, by enhancing adipose tissue PGC-1α protein levels independently of mRNA expression. We conclude that FGF21 acts to activate and expand the thermogenic machinery in vivo to provide a robust defense against hypothermia.

PPARγ agonists induce a white-to-brown fat conversion through stabilization of PRDM16 protein

Brown adipose tissue dissipates energy through heat and functions as a defense against cold and obesity. PPARγ ligands have been shown to induce the browning of white adipocytes; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that PPARγ ligands require full agonism to induce a brown fat gene program preferentially in subcutaneous white adipose. These effects require expression of PRDM16, a factor that controls the development of classical brown fat. Depletion of PRDM16 blunts the effects of the PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone on the induced brown fat gene program. Conversely, PRDM16 and rosiglitazone synergistically activate the brown fat gene program in vivo. This synergy is tightly associated with an increased accumulation of PRDM16 protein, due in large measure to an increase in the half-life of the protein in agonist treated cells. Identifying compounds that stabilize PRDM16 protein may represent a plausible therapeutic pathway for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.

Adipose tissue stem cells meet preadipocyte commitment: going back to the future

White adipose tissue (WAT) is perhaps the most plastic organ in the body, capable of regeneration following surgical removal and massive expansion or contraction in response to altered energy balance. Research conducted for over 70 years has investigated adipose tissue plasticity on a cellular level, spurred on by the increasing burden that obesity and associated diseases are placing on public health globally. This work has identified committed preadipocytes in the stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue and led to our current understanding that adipogenesis is important not only for WAT expansion, but also for maintenance of adipocyte numbers under normal metabolic states. At the turn of the millenium, studies investigating preadipocyte differentiation collided with developments in stem cell research, leading to the discovery of multipotent stem cells within WAT. Such adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) are capable of differentiating into numerous cell types of both mesodermal and nonmesodermal origin, leading to their extensive investigation from a therapeutic and tissue engineering perspective. However, the insights gained through studying ASCs have also contributed to more-recent progress in attempts to better characterize committed preadipocytes in adipose tissue. Thus, ASC research has gone back to its roots, thereby expanding our knowledge of preadipocyte commitment and adipose tissue biology.

The adipose organ of obesity-prone C57BL/6J mice is composed of mixed white and brown adipocytes

White and brown adipocytes are believed to occupy different sites in the body. We studied the anatomical features and quantitative histology of the fat depots in obesity and type 2 diabetes-prone C57BL/6J mice acclimated to warm or cold temperatures. Most of the fat tissue was contained in depots with discrete anatomical features, and most depots contained both white and brown adipocytes. Quantitative analysis showed that cold acclimation induced an increase in brown adipocytes and an almost equal reduction in white adipocytes; however, there were no significant differences in total adipocyte count or any signs of apoptosis or mitosis, in line with the hypothesis of the direct transformation of white into brown adipocytes. The brown adipocyte increase was accompanied by enhanced density of noradrenergic parenchymal nerve fibers, with a significant correlation between the density of these fibers and the number of brown adipocytes. Comparison with data from obesity-resistant Sv129 mice disclosed a significantly different brown adipocyte content in C57BL/6J mice, suggesting that this feature could underpin the propensity of the latter strain to develop obesity. However, the greater C57BL/6J browning capacity can hopefully be harnessed to curb obesity and type 2 diabetes in patients with constitutively low amounts of brown adipose tissue.

MR properties of brown and white adipose tissues

PURPOSE

To explore the MR signatures of brown adipose tissue (BAT) compared with white adipose tissue (WAT) using single-voxel MR spectroscopy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

(1) H MR STEAM spectra were acquired from a 3 Tesla clinical whole body scanner from seven excised murine adipose tissue samples of BAT (n=4) and WAT (n=3). Spectra were acquired at multiple echo times (TEs) and inversion times (TIs) to measure the T1, T2, and T2-corrected peak areas. A theoretical triglyceride model characterized the fat in terms of number of double bonds (ndb) and number of methylene-interrupted double bonds (nmidb).

RESULTS

Negligible differences between WAT and BAT were seen in the T1 and T2 of fat and the T2 of water. However, the water fraction in BAT was higher (48.5%) compared with WAT (7.1%) and the T1 of water was lower in BAT (618 ms) compared with WAT (1053 ms). The fat spectrum also differed, indicating lower levels of unsaturated triglycerides in BAT (ndb=2.7, nmidb=0.7) compared with WAT (ndb=3.3, nmidb=1.0).

CONCLUSION

We have demonstrated that there are several key MR-based signatures of BAT and WAT that may allow differentiation on MR imaging.

PPARs: fatty acid sensors controlling metabolism

The peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors that play key roles in the regulation of lipid metabolism, inflammation, cellular growth, and differentiation. The receptors bind and are activated by a broad range of fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives and they thereby serve as major transcriptional sensors of fatty acids. Here we review the function, regulation, and mechanism of the different PPAR subtypes with special emphasis on their role in the regulation of lipid metabolism.

Triiodothyronine induces UCP-1 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis in human adipocytes

Uncoupling protein (UCP)-1 expressed in brown adipose tissue plays an important role in thermogenesis. Recent data suggest that brown-like adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT) and skeletal muscle play a crucial role in the regulation of body weight. Understanding of the mechanism underlying the increase in UCP-1 expression level in these organs should, therefore, provide an approach to managing obesity. The thyroid hormone (TH) has profound effects on mitochondrial biogenesis and promotes the mRNA expression of UCP in skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue. However, the action of TH on the induction of brown-like adipocytes in WAT has not been elucidated. Thus we investigate whether TH could regulate UCP-1 expression in WAT using multipotent cells isolated from human adipose tissue. In this study, triiodothyronine (T3) treatment induced UCP-1 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis, accompanied by the induction of the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α, and nuclear respiratory factor-1 in differentiated human multipotent adipose-derived stem cells. The effects of T3 on UCP-1 induction were dependent on TH receptor-β. Moreover, T3 treatment increased oxygen consumption rate. These findings indicate that T3 is an active modulator, which induces energy utilization in white adipocytes through the regulation of UCP-1 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis. Our findings provide evidence that T3 serves as a bipotential mediator of mitochondrial biogenesis.

A new, powerful player in lipoprotein metabolism: brown adipose tissue

Important causes for modern epidemics such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are over- and malnutrition. Dietary as well as endogenous lipids are transported through the bloodstream in lipoproteins, and disturbances in lipoprotein metabolism are associated with atherosclerosis, heart disease, and diabetes. Recent findings reveal biological principles-how lipoproteins, in particular triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, are metabolized and what factors regulate their processing. The fate of triglycerides delivered by lipoproteins is quite simple: either they can be stored or they can be utilized for combustion or biosynthetic pathways. In the healthy state, fatty acids derived from triglycerides can be burned in the heart, muscle, and other organs for actual work load, or they can be stored in white adipose tissue. The combination of storage and combustion is realized in brown adipose tissue (BAT), a peripheral organ that was long thought to be only of relevance in small mammals: Recent data however prove that BAT plays an important role in human adults. Here, we will review recent insights on how BAT controls triglyceride clearance and the possible implications for the treatment of chronic diseases caused by lipid mishandling.

Recruitment of brown adipose tissue as a therapy for obesity-associated diseases

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been recognized for more than 20 years to play a key role in cold-induced non-shivering thermogenesis (CIT, NST), and body weight homeostasis in animals. BAT is a flexible tissue that can be recruited by stimuli (including small molecules in animals), and atrophies in the absence of a stimulus. In fact, the contribution of BAT (and UCP1) to resting metabolic rate and healthy body weight homeostasis in animals (rodents) is now well established. Many investigations have shown that resistance to obesity and associated disorders in various rodent models is due to increased BAT mass and the number of brown adipocytes or UCP1 expression in various depots. The recent discovery of active BAT in adult humans has rekindled the notion that BAT is a therapeutic target for combating obesity-related metabolic disorders. In this review, we highlight investigations performed in rodents that support the contention that activation of BAT formation and/or function in obese individuals is therapeutically powerful. We also propose that enhancement of brown adipocyte functions in white adipose tissue (WAT) will also regulate energy balance as well as reduce insulin resistance in obesity-associated inflammation in WAT.

TGF-β/Smad3 Signaling Regulates Brown Adipocyte Induction in White Adipose Tissue

Recent identification of active brown fat reserves in adult humans has re-stimulated interest in the role of brown adipocytes in energy homeostasis. In addition, there is accumulating evidence to support the concept of an alteration in energy balance through acquisition of brown fat features in traditional white fat depots. We recently described an important role played by the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway in modulating the appearance of brown adipocytes in traditional white fat, and its implications to thermogenesis, mitochondrial energetics, energy expenditure, and protection from diabetes and obesity. Here we review the data supporting this phenomenon and put into perspective the promise of conversion of white fat to a brown fat state as a potential therapeutic option for obesity and diabetes.

Recruited vs. nonrecruited molecular signatures of brown, "brite," and white adipose tissues

Mainly from cell culture studies, a series of genes that have been suggested to be characteristic of different types of adipocytes have been identified. Here we have examined gene expression patterns in nine defined adipose depots: interscapular BAT, cervical BAT, axillary BAT, mediastinic BAT, cardiac WAT, inguinal WAT, retroperitoneal WAT, mesenteric WAT, and epididymal WAT. We found that each depot displayed a distinct gene expression fingerprint but that three major types of depots were identifiable: the brown, the brite, and the white. Although differences in gene expression pattern were generally quantitative, some gene markers showed, even in vivo, remarkable depot specificities: Zic1 for the classical BAT depots, Hoxc9 for the brite depots, Hoxc8 for the brite and white in contrast to the brown, and Tcf21 for the white depots. The effect of physiologically induced recruitment of thermogenic function (cold acclimation) on the expression pattern of the genes was quantified; in general, the depot pattern dominated over the recruitment effects. The significance of the gene expression patterns for classifying the depots and for understanding the developmental background of the depots is discussed, as are the possible regulatory functions of the genes.

Brown adipose tissue: Recent insights into development, metabolic function and therapeutic potential

Obesity is currently a global pandemic, and is associated with increased mortality and co-morbidities including many metabolic diseases. Obesity is characterized by an increase in adipose mass due to increased energy intake, decreased energy expenditure, or both. While white adipose tissue is specialized for energy storage, brown adipose tissue has a high concentration of mitochondria and uniquely expresses uncoupling protein 1, enabling it to be specialized for energy expenditure and thermogenesis. Although brown fat was once considered only necessary in babies, recent morphological and imaging studies have provided evidence that, contrary to prior belief, this tissue is present and active in adult humans. In recent years, the topic of brown adipose tissue has been reinvigorated with many new studies regarding brown adipose tissue differentiation, function and therapeutic promise. This review summarizes the recent advances, discusses the emerging questions and offers perspective on the potential therapeutic applications targeting this tissue.

Augmenting energy expenditure by mitochondrial uncoupling: a role of AMP-activated protein kinase

Strategies to prevent and treat obesity aim to decrease energy intake and/or increase energy expenditure. Regarding the increase of energy expenditure, two key intracellular targets may be considered (1) mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, the major site of ATP production, and (2) AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the master regulator of cellular energy homeostasis. Experiments performed mainly in transgenic mice revealed a possibility to ameliorate obesity and associated disorders by mitochondrial uncoupling in metabolically relevant tissues, especially in white adipose tissue (WAT), skeletal muscle (SM), and liver. Thus, ectopic expression of brown fat-specific mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) elicited major metabolic effects both at the cellular/tissue level and at the whole-body level. In addition to expected increases in energy expenditure, surprisingly complex phenotypic effects were detected. The consequences of mitochondrial uncoupling in WAT and SM are not identical, showing robust and stable obesity resistance accompanied by improvement of lipid metabolism in the case of ectopic UCP1 in WAT, while preservation of insulin sensitivity in the context of high-fat feeding represents the major outcome of muscle UCP1 expression. These complex responses could be largely explained by tissue-specific activation of AMPK, triggered by a depression of cellular energy charge. Experimental data support the idea that (1) while being always activated in response to mitochondrial uncoupling and compromised intracellular energy status in general, AMPK could augment energy expenditure and mediate local as well as whole-body effects; and (2) activation of AMPK alone does not lead to induction of energy expenditure and weight reduction.

The implication of brown adipose tissue for humans

We here discuss the role of brown adipose tissue on energy homeostasis and assess its potential as a target for body weight management. Because of their high number of mitochondria and the presence of uncoupling protein 1, brown fat adipocytes can be termed as energy inefficient for adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) production but energy efficient for heat production. Thus, the energy inefficiency of ATP production, despite high energy substrate oxidation, allows brown adipose tissue to generate heat for body temperature regulation. Whether such thermogenic property also plays a role in body weight regulation is still debated. The recent (re)discovery of brown adipose tissue in human adults and a better understanding of brown adipose tissue development have encouraged the quest for new alternatives to treat obesity since obese individuals seem to have less brown adipose tissue mass/activity than do their lean counterparts. In this review, we discuss the physiological relevance of brown adipose tissue on thermogenesis and its potential usefulness on body weight control in humans.

Concise review: adipocyte origins: weighing the possibilities

Adipose tissue is the primary energy reservoir in the body and an important endocrine organ that plays roles in energy homeostasis, feeding, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation. While it was tacitly assumed that fat in different anatomical locations had a common origin and homogenous function, it is now clear that regional differences exist in adipose tissue characteristics and function. This is exemplified by the link between increased deep abdominal or visceral fat, but not peripheral adipose tissue and the metabolic disturbances associated with obesity. Regional differences in fat function are due in large part to distinct adipocyte populations that comprise the different fat depots. Evidence accrued primarily in the last decade indicates that the distinct adipocyte populations are generated by a number of processes during and after development. These include the production of adipocytes from different germ cell layers, the formation of distinct preadipocyte populations from mesenchymal progenitors of mesodermal origin, and the production of adipocytes from hematopoietic stem cells from the bone marrow. This review will examine each of these process and their relevance to normal adipose tissue formation and contribution to obesity-related diseases.

Rosiglitazone-induced mitochondrial biogenesis in white adipose tissue is independent of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α

BACKGROUND

Thiazolidinediones, a family of insulin-sensitizing drugs commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, are thought to exert their effects in part by promoting mitochondrial biogenesis in white adipose tissue through the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Coactivator-1α).

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

To assess the role of PGC-1α in the control of rosiglitazone-induced mitochondrial biogenesis, we have generated a mouse model that lacks expression of PGC-1α specifically in adipose tissues (PGC-1α-FAT-KO mice). We found that expression of genes encoding for mitochondrial proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation, tricarboxylic acid cycle or fatty acid oxidation, was similar in white adipose tissue of wild type and PGC-1α-FAT-KO mice. Furthermore, the absence of PGC-1α did not prevent the positive effect of rosiglitazone on mitochondrial gene expression or biogenesis, but it precluded the induction by rosiglitazone of UCP1 and other brown fat-specific genes in white adipose tissue. Consistent with the in vivo findings, basal and rosiglitazone-induced mitochondrial gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was unaffected by the knockdown of PGC-1α but it was impaired when PGC-1β expression was knockdown by the use of specific siRNA.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

These results indicate that in white adipose tissue PGC-1α is dispensable for basal and rosiglitazone-induced mitochondrial biogenesis but required for the rosiglitazone-induced expression of UCP1 and other brown adipocyte-specific markers. Our study suggests that PGC-1α is important for the appearance of brown adipocytes in white adipose tissue. Our findings also provide evidence that PGC-1β and not PGC-1α regulates basal and rosiglitazone-induced mitochondrial gene expression in white adipocytes.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) induces PPARγ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) gene expression and contributes to thermogenic activation of brown fat: involvement of PRDM16

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα) is a distinctive marker of the brown fat phenotype that has been proposed to coordinate the transcriptional activation of genes for lipid oxidation and for thermogenic uncoupling protein 1 in brown adipose tissue. Here, we investigated the involvement of PPARα in the transcriptional control of the PPARγ coactivator (PGC)-1α gene. Treatment with PPARα agonists induced PGC-1α mRNA expression in brown fat in vivo and in primary brown adipocytes. This enhancement of PGC-1α transcription was mediated by PPARα binding to a PPAR-responsive element in the distal PGC-1α gene promoter. PGC-1α gene expression was decreased in PPARα-null brown fat, both under basal conditions and in response to thermogenic activation. Moreover, PPARα- and cAMP-mediated pathways interacted to control PGC-1α transcription. PRDM16 (PRD1-BF1-RIZ1 homologous domain-containing 16) promoted PPARα induction of PGC-1α gene transcription, especially under conditions in which protein kinase A pathways were activated. This enhancement was associated with the interaction of PRDM16 with the PGC-1α promoter at the PPARα-binding site. In addition, PPARα promoted the expression of the PRDM16 gene in brown adipocytes, and activation of PPARα in human white adipocytes led to the appearance of a brown adipocyte pattern of gene expression, including induction of PGC-1α and PRDM16. Collectively, these results suggest that PPARα acts as a key component of brown fat thermogenesis by coordinately regulating lipid catabolism and thermogenic gene expression via induction of PGC-1α and PRDM16.

Rosiglitazone Induces Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Differentiated Murine 3T3-L1 and C3H/10T1/2 Adipocytes

Growing evidence indicates that PPARγ agonists, including rosiglitazone (RSG), induce adipose mitochondrial biogenesis. By systematically analyzing mitochondrial gene expression in two common murine adipocyte models, the current study aimed to further establish the direct role of RSG and capture temporal changes in gene transcription. Microarray profiling revealed that in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 and C3H/10T1/2 adipocytes treated with RSG or DMSO vehicle for 1, 2, 4, 7, 24, and 48 hrs, RSG overwhelmingly increased mitochondrial gene transcripts time dependently. The timing of the increases was consistent with the cascade of organelle biogenesis, that is, initiated by induction of transcription factor(s), followed by increases in the biosynthesis machinery, and then by increases in functional components. The transcriptional increases were further validated by increased mitochondrial staining, citrate synthase activity, and O₂ consumption, and were found to be associated with increased adiponectin secretion. The work provided further insight on the mechanism of PPARγ-induced mitochondrial biogenesis in differentiated adipocytes.

Inducible brown adipogenesis of supraclavicular fat in adult humans

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays key roles in thermogenesis and energy homeostasis in rodents. Metabolic imaging using positron emission tomography (PET)-computer tomography has identified significant depots of BAT in the supraclavicular fossa of adult humans. Whether supraclavicular fat contains precursor brown adipocytes is unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the adipogenic potential of precursor cells in human supraclavicular fat. We obtained fat biopsies from the supraclavicular fossa of six individuals, as guided by PET-computer tomography, with paired sc fat biopsies as negative controls. Each piece of fat tissue was divided and processed for histology, gene analysis, and primary culture. Cells were examined for morphological changes in culture and harvested for RNA and protein upon full differentiation for analysis of UCP1 level. Histological/molecular analysis of supraclavicular fat revealed higher abundance of BAT in PET-positive than PET-negative individuals. In all subjects, fibroblast-like cells isolated from supraclavicular fat differentiated in vitro and uniformly into adipocytes containing multilobulated lipid droplets, expressing high level of UCP1. The total duration required from inoculation to emergence of fibroblast-like cells was 32-34 and 40-42 d for PET-positive- and PET-negative-derived samples, respectively, whereas the time required to achieve full differentiation was 7 d, regardless of PET status. Precursor cells from sc fat failed to proliferate or express UCP1. In summary, preadipocytes isolated from supraclavicular fat are capable of differentiating into brown adipocytes in vitro, regardless of PET status. This study provides the first evidence of inducible brown adipogenesis in the supraclavicular region in adult humans.

Bone morphogenetic protein 7: a broad-spectrum growth factor with multiple target therapeutic potency

Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of growth factors. In recent years, it has become clear that BMP7 is a very pleiotropic growth factor. As described in this review, it plays a pivotal role in the development of bone and kidney, and has only recently been demonstrated to also be crucially involved in differentiation of brown adipose tissue. Because BMP7 thus controls the development and maintenance of many physiological processes in the human body, aberrant expression of BMP7 is associated with a variety of diseases. This review gives a broad overview on the involvement of BMP7 in several pathological conditions, such as incomplete fracture healing, osteoarthritis, the development of bone metastases, renal fibrosis and obesity. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of BMP7 in these disease states is discussed.

White to brown fat phenotypic switch induced by genetic and environmental activation of a hypothalamic-adipocyte axis

Living in an enriched environment with complex physical and social stimulation leads to improved cognitive and metabolic health. In white fat, enrichment induced the upregulation of the brown fat cell fate determining gene Prdm16, brown fat-specific markers, and genes involved in thermogenesis and β-adrenergic signaling. Moreover, pockets of cells with prototypical brown fat morphology and high UCP1 levels were observed in the white fat of enriched mice associated with resistance to diet-induced obesity. Hypothalamic overexpression of BDNF reproduced the enrichment-associated activation of the brown fat gene program and lean phenotype. Inhibition of BDNF signaling by genetic knockout or dominant-negative trkB reversed this phenotype. Our genetic and pharmacologic data suggest a mechanism whereby induction of hypothalamic BDNF expression in response to environmental stimuli leads to selective sympathoneural modulation of white fat to induce "browning" and increased energy dissipation.

Long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate pollution induces insulin resistance and mitochondrial alteration in adipose tissue

We have previously shown that chronic exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter, PM₂.₅) pollution in conjunction with high-fat diet induces insulin resistance through alterations in inflammatory pathways. In this study, we evaluated the effects of PM₂.₅ exposure over a substantive duration of a rodent's lifespan and focused on the impact of long-term exposure on adipose structure and function. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to PM₂.₅ or filtered air (FA) (6 h/day, 5 days/week) for duration of 10 months in Columbus, OH. At the end of the exposure, PM₂.₅-exposed mice demonstrated insulin resistance (IR) and a decrease in glucose tolerance compared with the FA-exposed group. Although there were no significant differences in circulating cytokines between PM₂.₅- and FA-exposed groups, circulating adiponectin and leptin were significantly decreased in PM₂.₅-exposed group. PM₂.₅ exposure also led to inflammatory response and oxidative stress as evidenced by increase of Nrf2-regulated antioxidant genes. Additionally, PM₂.₅ exposure decreased mitochondrial count in visceral adipose and mitochondrial size in interscapular adipose depots, which were associated with reduction of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression and downregulation of brown adipocyte-specific gene profiles. These findings suggest that long-term ambient PM₂.₅ exposure induces impaired glucose tolerance, IR, inflammation, and mitochondrial alteration, and thus, it is a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes.

Indoleamine 2,3-diooxygenase in periaortic fat: mechanisms of inhibition of contraction

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) metabolizes L-tryptophan to L-kynurenine, promotes immunosuppression, and has been described as a consumer of superoxide. We discovered IDO expression in periaortic fat and tested the hypothesis that periarterial IDO functionally reduces agonist-induced contraction. Our model was the thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and superior mesenteric artery of the male Sprague-Dawley rat. Periaortic fat from the thoracic aorta stained intensely for IDO, the brown fat marker uncoupling protein-1, and oil red O as a general lipid marker. White fat around the mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta stained less for IDO; brown fat was less abundant. IDO activity (kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio via HPLC) was detected in visceral and mesenteric artery fat (ratio: ∼4) but was highest in perithoracic aortic fat (ratio: 10 ± 1.1). In isometric contractile experiments, periadventitial fat reduced ANG II-induced thoracic aortic (with fat: 34% of without fat) and mesenteric artery (with fat: 63% of without fat) maximal contraction. In contrast, periadventitial fat did not reduce agonist-induced contraction in the abdominal aorta. The IDO inhibitor 1-L-methyltryptophan (1-MT) reversed the fat-induced reduction of ANG II-induced contraction in the thoracic aorta but not in the mesenteric artery. The IDO metabolite kynurenine relaxed the thoracic aorta only at high (9 mM) concentrations, whereas the downstream metabolite quinolinic acid (1 mM) relaxed the contracted thoracic aorta (∼80%). 1-MT did not correct the reduction in basal superoxide levels observed in the presence of perithoracic aortic fat. We conclude that IDO is an enzyme active primarily in brown fat surrounding the thoracic aorta and depresses aortic contractility.

Similarity of mouse perivascular and brown adipose tissues and their resistance to diet-induced inflammation

Thoracic perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is a unique adipose depot that likely influences vascular function and susceptibility to pathogenesis in obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Surprisingly, PVAT has been reported to share characteristics of both brown and white adipose, but a detailed direct comparison to interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) has not been performed. Here we show by full genome DNA microarray analysis that global gene expression profiles of PVAT are virtually identical to BAT, with equally high expression of Ucp-1, Cidea, and other genes known to be uniquely or very highly expressed in BAT. PVAT and BAT also displayed nearly identical phenotypes upon immunohistochemical analysis, and electron microscopy confirmed that PVAT contained multilocular lipid droplets and abundant mitochondria. Compared with white adipose tissue (WAT), PVAT and BAT from C57BL6/J mice fed a high-fat diet for 13 wk had markedly lower expression of immune cell-enriched mRNAs, suggesting resistance to obesity-induced inflammation. Indeed, staining of BAT and PVAT for macrophage markers (F4/80 and CD68) in obese mice showed virtually no macrophage infiltration, and FACS analysis of BAT confirmed the presence of very few CD11b(+)/CD11c(+) macrophages in BAT (1.0%) compared with WAT (31%). In summary, murine PVAT from the thoracic aorta is virtually identical to interscapular BAT, is resistant to diet-induced macrophage infiltration, and thus may play an important role in protecting the vascular bed from inflammatory stress.

Ambient particulate air pollution induces oxidative stress and alterations of mitochondria and gene expression in brown and white adipose tissues

Background

Prior studies have demonstrated a link between air pollution and metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes. Changes in adipose tissue and its mitochondrial content/function are closely associated with the development of insulin resistance and attendant metabolic complications. We investigated changes in adipose tissue structure and function in brown and white adipose depots in response to chronic ambient air pollutant exposure in a rodent model.

Methods

Male ApoE knockout (ApoE^-/-) mice inhaled concentrated fine ambient PM (PM < 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter; PM_2.5) or filtered air (FA) for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, for 2 months. We examined superoxide production by dihydroethidium staining; inflammatory responses by immunohistochemistry; and changes in white and brown adipocyte-specific gene profiles by real-time PCR and mitochondria by transmission electron microscopy in response to PM_2.5 exposure in different adipose depots of ApoE^-/- mice to understand responses to chronic inhalational stimuli.

Results

Exposure to PM_2.5 induced an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in brown adipose depots. Additionally, exposure to PM_2.5 decreased expression of uncoupling protein 1 in brown adipose tissue as measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Mitochondrial number was significantly reduced in white (WAT) and brown adipose tissues (BAT), while mitochondrial size was also reduced in BAT. In BAT, PM_2.5 exposure down-regulated brown adipocyte-specific genes, while white adipocyte-specific genes were differentially up-regulated.

Conclusions

PM_2.5 exposure triggers oxidative stress in BAT, and results in key alterations in mitochondrial gene expression and mitochondrial alterations that are pronounced in BAT. We postulate that exposure to PM_2.5 may induce imbalance between white and brown adipose tissue functionality and thereby predispose to metabolic dysfunction.

Protection from obesity and diabetes by blockade of TGF-β/Smad3 signaling

Imbalances in glucose and energy homeostasis are at the core of the worldwide epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Here, we illustrate an important role of the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway in regulating glucose and energy homeostasis. Smad3-deficient mice are protected from diet-induced obesity and diabetes. Interestingly, the metabolic protection is accompanied by Smad3(-)(/-) white adipose tissue acquiring the bioenergetic and gene expression profile of brown fat/skeletal muscle. Smad3(-/-) adipocytes demonstrate a marked increase in mitochondrial biogenesis, with a corresponding increase in basal respiration, and Smad3 acts as a repressor of PGC-1α expression. We observe significant correlation between TGF-β1 levels and adiposity in rodents and humans. Further, systemic blockade of TGF-β signaling protects mice from obesity, diabetes, and hepatic steatosis. Together, these results demonstrate that TGF-β signaling regulates glucose tolerance and energy homeostasis and suggest that modulation of TGF-β activity might be an effective treatment strategy for obesity and diabetes.

A new era for brown adipose tissue: New insights into brown adipocyte function and differentiation

Until quite recently, brown adipose tissue was considered of metabolic significance only in small mammals and human newborns, since it was thought to disappear rapidly after birth in humans. However, nowadays this tissue is known to play a role in the regulation of energy balance not only in rodents, but also in humans. In this review we highlight new features regarding brown adipose tissue origin and function and revise old paradigms about brown adipocyte differentiation.

Impaired expansion and multipotentiality of adult stromal cells in a rat chronic alcohol abuse model

It is well established that bone maintenance and healing is compromised in alcoholics. Adult bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSCs) and adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ASCs) likely contribute to bone homeostasis and formation. Direct and indirect alcohol exposure inhibits osteoprogenitor cell function through a variety of proposed mechanisms. The goal of this study was to characterize the effects of chronic alcohol ingestion on the native number and in vitro growth characteristics and multipotentiality of adult BMSCs and ASCs in a rat model. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received a liquid diet containing 36% ethanol or an isocaloric substitution of dextramaltose (control). After 4, 8, or 12 weeks of the diet, ASCs were harvested from epididymal adipose tissue and BMSCs from femoral and tibial bone marrow. Cell doublings (CDs) per day and doubling times (DTs) were determined for primary cells (P0) and cell passages 1 through 6 (P1-P6). Fibroblastic (CFU-F), adipogenic (CFU-Ad), and osteogenic (CFU-Ob) colony-forming unit (CFU) frequencies were assessed for P0, P3, and P6. The CDs and DTs were lower and higher, respectively, for ASCs and BMSCs harvested from ethanol versus control rats at all time points. The CFU-F, CFU-Ad, and CFU-Ob were significantly higher in ASCs harvested from control versus ethanol rats for P0, P3, and P6 at all times. Both CFU-Ad and CFU-Ob were significantly higher in P0 BMSCs harvested from control versus ethanol rats after 12 weeks of the diet. The CFU-Ob for P3 BMSCs from control rats was significantly higher than those from ethanol rats after 8 and 12 weeks on the diet. All three CFU frequencies in ASCs from ethanol rats tended to decrease with increasing diet duration. The ASC cell and colony morphology was different between control and ethanol cohorts in culture. These results emphasize the significant detrimental effects of chronic alcohol ingestion on the in vitro expansion and multipotentiality of adult mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Maintenance of the effects through multiple cell passages in vitro suggests cells may be permanently compromised.

Brown fat and obesity: the next big thing?

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is well recognised to have an important role in the maintenance of body temperature in animals and human neonates, its thermogenic action affected by a tissue-specific uncoupling protein; fatty acid oxidation within the numerous brown adipocyte mitochondria is rendered inefficient leading to heat, rather than adenosine triphosphate (ATP), production. BAT was believed to show rapid involution in early childhood, leaving only vestigial amounts in adults. However, recent evidence suggests that its expression in adults is far more common than previously appreciated, with a higher likelihood of detection in women and leaner individuals. It is conceivable that BAT activity might reduce the risk of developing obesity since fat stores are used for thermogenesis, and a directed enhancement of adipocyte metabolism might have value in weight reduction. However, it is as yet unclear how such manipulation of BAT might be achieved; even in animal models, the control of thermogenic activity is incompletely understood. Even so, there is still much to interest the endocrinologist in BAT, with a range of hormones affecting adipocyte activity. This may either contribute to normal physiological function, or the phenotypical presentation of states of pathological hormone excess or deficiency. Thus, the gender differences in BAT distribution may be attributable to the differential effects of male and female sex hormones, whilst BAT expansion may drive the weight loss associated with catecholamine-producing phaeochromocytomas. These observations support an important influence of the endocrine system on BAT activity and offer new potential targets in the treatment of obesity.

Endocrine parameters and phenotypes of the growth hormone receptor gene disrupted (GHR-/-) mouse

Disruption of the GH receptor (GHR) gene eliminates GH-induced intracellular signaling and, thus, its biological actions. Therefore, the GHR gene disrupted mouse (GHR-/-) has been and is a valuable tool for helping to define various parameters of GH physiology. Since its creation in 1995, this mouse strain has been used by our laboratory and others for numerous studies ranging from growth to aging. Some of the most notable discoveries are their extreme insulin sensitivity in the presence of obesity. Also, the animals have an extended lifespan, which has generated a large number of investigations into the roles of GH and IGF-I in the aging process. This review summarizes the many results derived from the GHR-/- mice. We have attempted to present the findings in the context of current knowledge regarding GH action and, where applicable, to discuss how these mice compare to GH insensitivity syndrome in humans.

Secreted proteins from adipose tissue and skeletal muscle - adipokines, myokines and adipose/muscle cross-talk

White adipose tissue and skeletal muscle are the largest organs in the body and both are composed of distinct cell types. The signature cell of adipose tissue is the adipocyte while myocytes are the defining cell of skeletal muscle. White adipocytes are major secretory cells and this is increasingly apparent also for myocytes. Both cells secrete a range of bioactive proteins, generally termed adipokines in the case of adipocytes and myokines for muscle cells. There has, however, been some confusion over nomenclature and we suggest that the name myokine is restricted to a protein that is secreted from myocytes, while the term adipokine should be used to describe all proteins secreted from any type of adipocyte (white, brown or brite). These definitions specifically exclude proteins secreted from other cells within adipose tissue and muscle, including macrophages. There is some commonality between the myokines and adipokines in that both groups include inflammation-related proteins - for example, IL-6, Il-8 and MCP-1. Adipokines and myokines appear to be involved in local autocrine/paracrine interactions within adipose tissue and muscle, respectively. They are also involved in an endocrine cross-talk with other tissues, including between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, and this may be bi-directional. For example, IL-6, secreted from myocytes may stimulate lipolysis in adipose tissue, while adipocyte-derived IL-6 may induce insulin resistance in muscle.

Functional brown adipose tissue is related to muscle volume in children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether the depiction of brown adipose tissue (BAT) with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in pediatric patients is associated with anthropometric measures.

STUDY DESIGN

We determined measures of body mass, adiposity, and musculature in 71 children and adolescents who underwent PET/CT examinations and compared patients with and without BAT. We used regression analyses to assess the relation between BAT and anthropometric measures.

RESULTS

A total of 30 patients (42%) had BAT depicted on PET/CT, 10 of 26 girls (38%) and 20 of 45 boys (44%). Compared with patients without functional BAT, patients with BAT had significantly greater neck musculature (1880 ± 908 cm(3) versus 1299 ± 806 cm(3); P = .028 for boys and 1295 ± 586 cm(3) versus 854 ± 392 cm(3); P = .030 for girls) and gluteus musculature (1359 ± 373 cm(3) versus 1061 ± 500 cm(3); P = .032 for boys and 1138 ± 425 cm(3) versus 827 ± 297 cm(3); P = .038 for girls), but no differences in age, body mass index, or measures of subcutaneous fat. With logistic regression analyses, neck and pelvic musculature predicted the presence of BAT independently of age, sex, body size, and season of scan (P = .018 and .009, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Pediatric patients with visualized BAT on PET/CT examinations had significantly greater muscle volume than patients with no visualized BAT.

Loss of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 protects from hepatic steatosis by repression of cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor A (DFFA)-like effector C (CIDEC)/fat-specific protein 27

The integration of metabolic signals required for the regulation of hepatic lipid homeostasis is complex. Previously, we showed that mice lacking expression of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) have increased fatty acid oxidation and are protected from the development of hepatic steatosis. Here, we show that leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mice lacking MKP-1 are also resistant to the development of hepatic steatosis. Microarray analyses of livers from db/db mice lacking MKP-1 showed suppression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) target genes. We identified the fat-specific protein 27 (Fsp27), which promotes PPARγ-mediated hepatic steatosis, as repressed in livers of both db/db and high fat diet-fed mice lacking MKP-1. Hepatocytes from MKP-1-deficient mice exhibited reduced PPARγ-induced lipid droplet formation. Mechanistically, loss of MKP-1 inhibited PPARγ function by increasing MAPK-dependent phosphorylation on PPARγ at its inhibitory residue of serine 112. These results demonstrate that in addition to inhibiting hepatic fatty acid oxidation, MKP-1 promotes hepatic lipogenic gene expression through PPARγ. Hence, MKP-1 plays an important role in MAPK-mediated control of hepatic lipid homeostasis.

Implications of nonshivering thermogenesis for energy balance regulation in humans

The incidence of the metabolic syndrome has reached epidemic levels in the Western world. With respect to the energy balance, most attention has been given to reducing energy (food) intake. Increasing energy expenditure is an important alternative strategy. Facultative thermogenesis, which is the increase in energy expenditure in response to cold or diet, may be an effective way to affect the energy balance. The recent identification of functional brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adult humans promoted a renewed interest in nonshivering thermogenesis (NST). The purpose of this review is to highlight the recent insight in NST, general aspects of its regulation, the major tissues involved, and its metabolic consequences. Sustainable NST in adult humans amounts to 15% of the average daily energy expenditure. Calculations based on the limited available literature show that BAT thermogenesis can amount to 5% of the basal metabolic rate. It is likely that at least a substantial part of NST can be attributed to BAT, but it is possible that other tissues contribute to NST. Several studies on mitochondrial uncoupling indicate that skeletal muscle is another potential contributor to facultative thermogenesis in humans. The general and synergistic role of the sympathetic nervous system and the thyroid axis in relation to NST is discussed. Finally, perspectives on BAT and skeletal muscle NST are given.

Nonshivering thermogenesis and its adequate measurement in metabolic studies

Alterations in nonshivering thermogenesis are presently discussed as being both potentially causative of and able to counteract obesity. However, the necessity for mammals to defend their body temperature means that the ambient temperature profoundly affects the outcome and interpretation of metabolic experiments. An adequate understanding and assessment of nonshivering thermogenesis is therefore paramount for metabolic studies. Classical nonshivering thermogenesis is facultative, i.e. it is only activated when an animal acutely requires extra heat (switched on in minutes), and adaptive, i.e. it takes weeks for an increase in capacity to develop. Nonshivering thermogenesis is fully due to brown adipose tissue activity; adaptation corresponds to the recruitment of this tissue. Diet-induced thermogenesis is probably also facultative and adaptive and due to brown adipose tissue activity. Although all mammals respond to injected/infused norepinephrine (noradrenaline) with an increase in metabolism, in non-adapted mammals this increase mainly represents the response of organs not involved in nonshivering thermogenesis; only the increase after adaptation represents nonshivering thermogenesis. Thermogenesis (metabolism) should be expressed per animal, and not per body mass [not even to any power (0.75 or 0.66)]. A 'cold tolerance test' does not examine nonshivering thermogenesis capacity; rather it tests shivering capacity and endurance. For mice, normal animal house temperatures are markedly below thermoneutrality, and the mice therefore have a metabolic rate and food consumption about 1.5 times higher than their intrinsic requirements. Housing and examining mice at normal house temperatures carries a high risk of identifying false positives for intrinsic metabolic changes; in particular, mutations/treatments that affect the animal's insulation (fur, skin) may lead to such problems. Correspondingly, true alterations in intrinsic metabolic rate remain undetected when metabolism is examined at temperatures below thermoneutrality. Thus, experiments with animals kept and examined at thermoneutrality are likely to yield an improved possibility of identifying agents and genes important for human energy balance.

[Overweight. A valid predictor of cardiometabolic risk?]

A commonly held notion directly correlates overweight and obesity with cardiometabolic risk. A number of studies have recently questioned this belief. The classic measure of obesity, the body mass index, appears less valid to properly indicate increased fat mass and, in particular, potentially harmful changes in fat depots. Moreover, depot- and age-specific alterations including increases in fat mass are physiologic throughout life and may not be associated with an increased risk for diabetes or cardiovascular complications. In contrast, they may rather entail multi-system adaptations that are protective, e. g. to cardiovascular and bone health, and represent an explanation for what has recently been called "benign obesity". Endocrine as well as thermogenic functions of fat cells appear to be critical for the underlying biology. In this article, we highlight recent epidemiologic and biologic insights arguing against the assumption of overweight as a simple measure of disease. Finally, using selected clinical cases we demonstrate the ill-informed nature of an "overweight-focused" approach and delineate a practical algorithm to identify overweight patients at cardiometabolic risk.

Gene-chip studies of adipogenesis-regulated microRNAs in mouse primary adipocytes and human obesity

BACKGROUND

Adipose tissue abundance relies partly on the factors that regulate adipogenesis, i.e. proliferation and differentiation of adipocytes. While components of the transcriptional program that initiates adipogenesis is well-known, the importance of microRNAs in adipogenesis is less well studied. We thus set out to investigate whether miRNAs would be actively modulated during adipogenesis and obesity.

METHODS

Several models exist to study adipogenesis in vitro, of which the cell line 3T3-L1 is the most well known, albeit not the most physiologically appropriate. Thus, as an alternative, we produced EXIQON microarray of brown and white primary murine adipocytes (prior to and following differentiation) to yield global profiles of miRNAs.

RESULTS

We found 65 miRNAs regulated during in vitro adipogenesis in primary adipocytes. We evaluated the similarity of our responses to those found in non-primary cell models, through literature data-mining. When comparing primary adipocyte profiles, with those of cell lines reported in the literature, we found a high degree of difference in 'adipogenesis' regulated miRNAs suggesting that the model systems may not be accurately representing adipogenesis. The expression of 10 adipogenesis-regulated miRNAs were studied using real-time qPCR and then we selected 5 miRNAs, that showed robust expression, were profiled in subcutaneous adipose tissue obtained from 20 humans with a range of body mass indices (BMI, range = 21-48, and all samples have U133+2 Affymetrix profiles provided). Of the miRNAs tested, mir-21 was robustly expressed in human adipose tissue and positively correlated with BMI (R2 = 0.49, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we provide a preliminary analysis of miRNAs associated with primary cell in vitro adipogenesis and demonstrate that the inflammation-associated miRNA, mir-21 is up-regulated in subcutaneous adipose tissue in human obesity. Further, we provide a novel transcriptomics database of EXIQON and Affymetrix adipocyte profiles to facilitate data mining.

Differential computed tomographic attenuation of metabolically active and inactive adipose tissues: preliminary findings

This study investigates differences in computed tomography Hounsfield units between metabolically active (brown fat) and inactive adipose tissues (white fat) due to variations in their densities. Positron emission and computed tomographic data from 101 pediatric and adolescent patients were analyzed. Regions of metabolically active and inactive adipose tissues were identified, and standard uptake values and Hounsfield units were measured. Hounsfield units of active brown fat were more positive (P < 0.001) than inactive fat (-62.4 ± 5.3 vs -86.7 ± 7.0) and the difference was observed in both males and females.