1
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Inoue SI, Emmett MJ, Lim HW, Midha M, Richter HJ, Celwyn IJ, Mehmood R, Chondronikola M, Klein S, Hauck AK, Lazar MA. Short-term cold exposure induces persistent epigenomic memory in brown fat. Cell Metab 2024; 36:1764-1778.e9. [PMID: 38889724 PMCID: PMC11305953 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Deficiency of the epigenome modulator histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) impairs the ability of mice to survive in near-freezing temperatures. Here, we report that short-term exposure to mild cold temperature (STEMCT: 15°C for 24 h) averted lethal hypothermia of mice lacking HDAC3 in BAT (HDAC3 BAT KO) exposed to 4°C. STEMCT restored the induction of the thermogenic coactivator PGC-1α along with UCP1 at 22°C, which is greatly impaired in HDAC3-deficient BAT, and deletion of either UCP1 or PGC-1α prevented the protective effect of STEMCT. Remarkably, this protection lasted for up to 7 days. Transcriptional activator C/EBPβ was induced by short-term cold exposure in mouse and human BAT and, uniquely, remained high for 7 days following STEMCT. Adeno-associated virus-mediated knockdown of BAT C/EBPβ in HDAC3 BAT KO mice erased the persistent memory of STEMCT, revealing the existence of a C/EBPβ-dependent and HDAC3-independent cold-adaptive epigenomic memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Ichi Inoue
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Matthew J Emmett
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hee-Woong Lim
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Mohit Midha
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hannah J Richter
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Isaac J Celwyn
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rashid Mehmood
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Maria Chondronikola
- Institute of Metabolic Science-Metabolic Research Laboratories and Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Samuel Klein
- Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Amy K Hauck
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mitchell A Lazar
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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2
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Blondin DP, Haman F, Swibas TM, Hogan-Lamarre S, Dumont L, Guertin J, Richard G, Weissenburger Q, Hildreth KL, Schauer I, Panter S, Wyland L, Carpentier AC, Miao Y, Shi J, Juarez-Colunga E, Kohrt WM, Melanson EL. Brown adipose tissue metabolism in women is dependent on ovarian status. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2024; 326:E588-E601. [PMID: 38477875 PMCID: PMC11211003 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00077.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
In rodents, loss of estradiol (E2) reduces brown adipose tissue (BAT) metabolic activity. Whether E2 impacts BAT activity in women is not known. BAT oxidative metabolism was measured in premenopausal (n = 27; 35 ± 9 yr; body mass index = 26.0 ± 5.3 kg/m2) and postmenopausal (n = 25; 51 ± 8 yr; body mass index = 28.0 ± 5.0 kg/m2) women at room temperature and during acute cold exposure using [11C]acetate with positron emission tomography coupled with computed tomograph. BAT glucose uptake was also measured during acute cold exposure using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose. To isolate the effects of ovarian hormones from biological aging, measurements were repeated in a subset of premenopausal women (n = 8; 40 ± 4 yr; BMI = 28.0 ± 7.2 kg/m2) after 6 mo of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy to suppress ovarian hormones. At room temperature, there was no difference in BAT oxidative metabolism between premenopausal (0.56 ± 0.31 min-1) and postmenopausal women (0.63 ± 0.28 min-1). During cold exposure, BAT oxidative metabolism (1.28 ± 0.85 vs. 0.91 ± 0.63 min-1, P = 0.03) and net BAT glucose uptake (84.4 ± 82.5 vs. 29.7 ± 31.4 nmol·g-1·min-1, P < 0.01) were higher in premenopausal than postmenopausal women. In premenopausal women who underwent gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, cold-stimulated BAT oxidative metabolism was reduced to a similar level (from 1.36 ± 0.66 min-1 to 0.91 ± 0.41 min-1) to that observed in postmenopausal women (0.91 ± 0.63 min-1). These results provide the first evidence in humans that reproductive hormones are associated with BAT oxidative metabolism and suggest that BAT may be a target to attenuate age-related reduction in energy expenditure and maintain metabolic health in postmenopausal women.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In rodents, loss of estrogen reduces brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity. Whether this is true in humans is not known. We found that BAT oxidative metabolism and glucose uptake were lower in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women. In premenopausal women who underwent ovarian suppression to reduce circulating estrogen, BAT oxidative metabolism was reduced to postmenopausal levels. Thus the loss of ovarian function in women leads to a reduction in BAT metabolic activity independent of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis P Blondin
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - François Haman
- School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tracy M Swibas
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Sophie Hogan-Lamarre
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lauralyne Dumont
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jolan Guertin
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gabriel Richard
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Quentin Weissenburger
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kerry L Hildreth
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Irene Schauer
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Eastern Colorado Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Denver, Colorado, United States
| | - Shelby Panter
- Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Liza Wyland
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - André C Carpentier
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yubin Miao
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Jiayuan Shi
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Elizabeth Juarez-Colunga
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Eastern Colorado Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Denver, Colorado, United States
| | - Wendy M Kohrt
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Eastern Colorado Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Denver, Colorado, United States
| | - Edward L Melanson
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Eastern Colorado Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Denver, Colorado, United States
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3
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Kowald A, Palmer D, Secci R, Fuellen G. Healthy Aging in Times of Extreme Temperatures: Biomedical Approaches. Aging Dis 2024; 15:601-611. [PMID: 37450930 PMCID: PMC10917539 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate extremes and rising energy prices present interconnected global health risks. Technical solutions can be supplemented with biomedical approaches to promote healthy longevity in hot and cold conditions. In summer, reducing basal metabolic rate through mild caloric restriction or CR mimetics, such as resveratrol, can potentially be used to lower body temperature. In winter, activating brown adipose tissue (BAT) for non-shivering thermogenesis and improved metabolic health can help adaptation to colder environments. Catechins found in green tea and in other food could be alternatives to drugs for these purposes. This review examines and discusses the biomedical evidence supporting the use of CR mimetics and BAT activators for health benefits amid increasingly extreme temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Kowald
- Institut für Biostatistik und Informatik in Medizin und Alternsforschung, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Germany.
| | - Daniel Palmer
- Institut für Biostatistik und Informatik in Medizin und Alternsforschung, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Germany.
| | - Riccardo Secci
- Institut für Biostatistik und Informatik in Medizin und Alternsforschung, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Germany.
| | - Georg Fuellen
- Institut für Biostatistik und Informatik in Medizin und Alternsforschung, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Germany.
- Interdisziplinäre Fakultät, Department AGIS (Altern des Individuums und der Gesellschaft), Universität Rostock, Germany.
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
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4
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Duerre DJ, Hansen JK, John S, Jen A, Carrillo N, Bui H, Bao Y, Fabregat M, Overmeyer K, Shishkova E, Keller MP, Anderson RA, Cryns VL, Attie AD, Coon JJ, Fan J, Galmozzi A. Heme biosynthesis regulates BCAA catabolism and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.28.568893. [PMID: 38076785 PMCID: PMC10705273 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.28.568893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
With age, people tend to accumulate body fat and reduce energy expenditure 1 . Brown (BAT) and beige adipose tissue dissipate heat and increase energy expenditure via the activity of the uncoupling protein UCP1 and other thermogenic futile cycles 2,3 . The activity of brown and beige depots inversely correlates with BMI and age 4-11 , suggesting that promoting thermogenesis may be an effective approach for combating age-related metabolic disease 12-15 . Heme is an enzyme cofactor and signaling molecule that we recently showed to regulate BAT function 16 . Here, we show that heme biosynthesis is the primary contributor to intracellular heme levels in brown adipocytes. Inhibition of heme biosynthesis leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and reduction in UCP1. Although supplementing heme can restore mitochondrial function in heme-synthesis-deficient cells, the downregulation of UCP1 persists due to the accumulation of the heme precursors, particularly propionyl-CoA, which is a product of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) catabolism. Cold exposure promotes BCAA uptake in BAT, and defects in BCAA catabolism in this tissue hinder thermogenesis 17 . However, BCAAs' contribution to the TCA cycle in BAT and WAT never exceeds 2% of total TCA flux 18 . Our work offers a way to integrate current literature by describing heme biosynthesis as an important metabolic sink for BCAAs.
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5
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Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) displays the unique capacity to generate heat through uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation that makes it a very attractive therapeutic target for cardiometabolic diseases. Here, we review BAT cellular metabolism, its regulation by the central nervous and endocrine systems and circulating metabolites, the plausible roles of this tissue in human thermoregulation, energy balance, and cardiometabolic disorders, and the current knowledge on its pharmacological stimulation in humans. The current definition and measurement of BAT in human studies relies almost exclusively on BAT glucose uptake from positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxiglucose, which can be dissociated from BAT thermogenic activity, as for example in insulin-resistant states. The most important energy substrate for BAT thermogenesis is its intracellular fatty acid content mobilized from sympathetic stimulation of intracellular triglyceride lipolysis. This lipolytic BAT response is intertwined with that of white adipose (WAT) and other metabolic tissues, and cannot be independently stimulated with the drugs tested thus far. BAT is an interesting and biologically plausible target that has yet to be fully and selectively activated to increase the body's thermogenic response and shift energy balance. The field of human BAT research is in need of methods able to directly, specifically, and reliably measure BAT thermogenic capacity while also tracking the related thermogenic responses in WAT and other tissues. Until this is achieved, uncertainty will remain about the role played by this fascinating tissue in human cardiometabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- André C Carpentier
- Correspondence: André C. Carpentier, MD, Division of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, 3001, 12th Ave N, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada.
| | - Denis P Blondin
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
| | | | - Denis Richard
- Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 4G5, Canada
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6
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Saito M, Okamatsu-Ogura Y. Thermogenic Brown Fat in Humans: Implications in Energy Homeostasis, Obesity and Metabolic Disorders. World J Mens Health 2023:41.e26. [PMID: 36792089 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.220224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals including humans, there are two types of adipose tissue, white and brown adipose tissues (BATs). White adipose tissue is the primary site of energy storage, while BAT is a specialized tissue for non-shivering thermogenesis to dissipate energy as heat. Although BAT research has long been limited mostly in small rodents, the rediscovery of metabolically active BAT in adult humans has dramatically promoted the translational studies on BAT in health and diseases. It is now established that BAT, through its thermogenic and energy dissipating activities, plays a role in the regulation of body temperature, whole-body energy expenditure, and body fatness. Moreover, increasing evidence has demonstrated that BAT secretes various paracrine and endocrine factors, which influence other peripheral tissues and control systemic metabolic homeostasis, suggesting BAT as a metabolic regulator, other than for thermogenesis. In fact, clinical studies have revealed an association of BAT not only with metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver, but also with cardiovascular diseases including hypertension and atherosclerosis. Thus, BAT is an intriguing tissue combating obesity and related metabolic diseases. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on human BAT, focusing its patho-physiological roles in energy homeostasis, obesity and related metabolic disorders. The effects of aging and sex on BAT are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Saito
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
| | - Yuko Okamatsu-Ogura
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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7
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Fernández-Peña C, Reimúndez A, Viana F, Arce VM, Señarís R. Sex differences in thermoregulation in mammals: Implications for energy homeostasis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1093376. [PMID: 36967809 PMCID: PMC10030879 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1093376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermal homeostasis is a fundamental process in mammals, which allows the maintenance of a constant internal body temperature to ensure an efficient function of cells despite changes in ambient temperature. Increasing evidence has revealed the great impact of thermoregulation on energy homeostasis. Homeothermy requires a fine regulation of food intake, heat production, conservation and dissipation and energy expenditure. A great interest on this field of research has re-emerged following the discovery of thermogenic brown adipose tissue and browning of white fat in adult humans, with a potential clinical relevance on obesity and metabolic comorbidities. However, most of our knowledge comes from male animal models or men, which introduces unwanted biases on the findings. In this review, we discuss how differences in sex-dependent characteristics (anthropometry, body composition, hormonal regulation, and other sexual factors) influence numerous aspects of thermal regulation, which impact on energy homeostasis. Individuals of both sexes should be used in the experimental paradigms, considering the ovarian cycles and sexual hormonal regulation as influential factors in these studies. Only by collecting data in both sexes on molecular, functional, and clinical aspects, we will be able to establish in a rigorous way the real impact of thermoregulation on energy homeostasis, opening new avenues in the understanding and treatment of obesity and metabolic associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alfonso Reimúndez
- Department of Physiology, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Félix Viana
- Institute of Neuroscience, University Miguel Hernández (UMH)-CSIC, Alicante, Spain
| | - Victor M. Arce
- Department of Physiology, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- *Correspondence: Rosa Señarís, ; Victor M. Arce,
| | - Rosa Señarís
- Department of Physiology, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- *Correspondence: Rosa Señarís, ; Victor M. Arce,
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8
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Leow MKS. Brown fat detection by infrared thermography-An invaluable research methodology with noteworthy uncertainties confirmed by a mathematical proof. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab 2022; 6:e378. [PMID: 36379014 PMCID: PMC9836251 DOI: 10.1002/edm2.378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) represents a pivotal scientific renaissance worthy as a strategy for obesity and diabetes since its re-discovery in adults over a decade ago. Equally compelling is the adoption of infrared thermography (IRT) in recent times as a precise and viable alternative methodology over the 'gold standard' PET-CT scan, given constraints of the latter's high ionizing radiation doses and costs. Unravelling BAT metabolic physiology in live humans has been challenging until recent rigorous validation of IRT against PET. Nevertheless, IRT remains a nascent technique with pitfalls unbeknownst to many researchers. Factors impacting its accuracy merit an in-depth scientific scrutiny. This article discusses the strengths and pitfalls of IRT as an emergent BAT detection technique and provides a mathematical proof of its limitations that BAT researchers should be cognizant of. Understanding these limitations of IRT can prompt extra efforts to control these uncertainties with greater rigour. In conclusion, this warrants further investigations of improving IRT quality via advanced auto-segmentation, powerful image processing of thermograms and protocol standardization along the lines of BARCIST 1.0 to minimize errors and enhance the confidence of the global BAT research community in IRT as a robust and reliable BAT research tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin K. S. Leow
- Department of Human DevelopmentSingapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STARSingapore CitySingapore,Lee Kong Chian School of MedicineSingapore CitySingapore,Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders ProgramDuke‐NUS Medical SchoolSingapore CitySingapore,Department of EndocrinologyTan Tock Seng HospitalSingapore CitySingapore
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9
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Martinez-Tellez B, Sanchez-Delgado G, Acosta FM, Alcantara JMA, Amaro-Gahete FJ, Martinez-Avila WD, Merchan-Ramirez E, Muñoz-Hernandez V, Osuna-Prieto FJ, Jurado-Fasoli L, Xu H, Ortiz-Alvarez L, Arias-Tellez MJ, Mendez-Gutierrez A, Labayen I, Ortega FB, Schönke M, Rensen PCN, Aguilera CM, Llamas-Elvira JM, Gil Á, Ruiz JR. No evidence of brown adipose tissue activation after 24 weeks of supervised exercise training in young sedentary adults in the ACTIBATE randomized controlled trial. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5259. [PMID: 36097264 PMCID: PMC9467993 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32502-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Exercise modulates both brown adipose tissue (BAT) metabolism and white adipose tissue (WAT) browning in murine models. Whether this is true in humans, however, has remained unknown. An unblinded randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02365129) was therefore conducted to study the effects of a 24-week supervised exercise intervention, combining endurance and resistance training, on BAT volume and activity (primary outcome). The study was carried out in the Sport and Health University Research Institute and the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital of the University of Granada (Spain). One hundred and forty-five young sedentary adults were assigned to either (i) a control group (no exercise, n = 54), (ii) a moderate intensity exercise group (MOD-EX, n = 48), or (iii) a vigorous intensity exercise group (VIG-EX n = 43) by unrestricted randomization. No relevant adverse events were recorded. 97 participants (34 men, 63 women) were included in the final analysis (Control; n = 35, MOD-EX; n = 31, and VIG-EX; n = 31). We observed no changes in BAT volume (Δ Control: −22.2 ± 52.6 ml; Δ MOD-EX: −15.5 ± 62.1 ml, Δ VIG-EX: −6.8 ± 66.4 ml; P = 0.771) or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake (SUVpeak Δ Control: −2.6 ± 3.1 ml; Δ MOD-EX: −1.2 ± 4.8, Δ VIG-EX: −2.2 ± 5.1; p = 0.476) in either the control or the exercise groups. Thus, we did not find any evidence of an exercise-induced change on BAT volume or activity in young sedentary adults. Exercise modulates brown adipose tissue (BAT) metabolism in murine models. Here the authors report that there is no evidence that 24 weeks of supervised exercise training modulates BAT volume or function in young sedentary adults in the ACTIBATE randomized controlled trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borja Martinez-Tellez
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Education, Faculty of Education Sciences and SPORT Research Group (CTS-1024), CERNEP Research Center, University of Almería, Almería, Spain
| | - Guillermo Sanchez-Delgado
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Francisco M Acosta
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Juan M A Alcantara
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco J Amaro-Gahete
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,EFFECTS-262 Research Group, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Wendy D Martinez-Avila
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Elisa Merchan-Ramirez
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Victoria Muñoz-Hernandez
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco J Osuna-Prieto
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Research and Development of Functional Food Center (CIDAF), Granada, Spain
| | - Lucas Jurado-Fasoli
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Huiwen Xu
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, "José Mataix Verdú" Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INYTA), Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Lourdes Ortiz-Alvarez
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, "José Mataix Verdú" Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INYTA), Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - María J Arias-Tellez
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Independence, 1027, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrea Mendez-Gutierrez
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, "José Mataix Verdú" Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INYTA), Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain.,CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Idoia Labayen
- Institute for Innovation & Sustainable Development in Food Chain (IS-FOOD), Public University of Navarra, Campus de Arrosadía, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Francisco B Ortega
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Milena Schönke
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick C N Rensen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Concepción M Aguilera
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, "José Mataix Verdú" Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INYTA), Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain.,CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Llamas-Elvira
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain.,Nuclear Medicine Service, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain.,Nuclear Medicine Department, Biohealth Research Institute in Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ángel Gil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, "José Mataix Verdú" Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INYTA), Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain.,CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jonatan R Ruiz
- PROFITH (PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity) Research Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, ibs.Granada, Granada, Spain.
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10
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Silva GDN, Amato AA. Thermogenic adipose tissue aging: Mechanisms and implications. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:955612. [PMID: 35979379 PMCID: PMC9376969 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.955612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Adipose tissue undergoes significant anatomical and functional changes with aging, leading to an increased risk of metabolic diseases. Age-related changes in adipose tissue include overall defective adipogenesis, dysfunctional adipokine secretion, inflammation, and impaired ability to produce heat by nonshivering thermogenesis. Thermogenesis in adipose tissue is accomplished by brown and beige adipocytes, which also play a role in regulating energy homeostasis. Brown adipocytes develop prenatally, are found in dedicated depots, and involute in early infancy in humans. In contrast, beige adipocytes arise postnatally in white adipose tissue and persist throughout life, despite being lost with aging. In recent years, there have been significant advances in the understanding of age-related reduction in thermogenic adipocyte mass and function. Mechanisms underlying such changes are beginning to be delineated. They comprise diminished adipose precursor cell pool size and adipogenic potential, mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased sympathetic signaling, and altered paracrine and endocrine signals. This review presents current evidence from animal models and human studies for the mechanisms underlying thermogenic adipocyte loss and discusses potential strategies targeting brown and beige adipocytes to increase health span and longevity.
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11
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Sexual Dimorphism in Brown Adipose Tissue Activation and White Adipose Tissue Browning. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158250. [PMID: 35897816 PMCID: PMC9368277 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The present narrative review gathers the studies reported so far, addressing sex differences in the effects of cold exposure, feeding pattern and age on brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis and white adipose tissue (WAT) browning. In rodents, when exposed to decreasing temperatures, females activate thermogenesis earlier. Results obtained in humans go in the same line, although they do not provide results as solid as those obtained in rodents. Regarding the effects of overfeeding, interesting sex differences on BAT thermogenic capacity have been reported, and the greater or lower sensitivity of each sex to this dietary situation seems to be dependent on the type of feeding. In the case of energy restriction, females are more sensitive than males. In addition, sex differences have also been observed in thermogenesis changes induced by phenolic compound administration. During sexual development, an increase in BAT mass and BAT activity takes place. This phenomenon is greater in boys than in girls, probably due to its relation to muscle-mass growth. The opposite situation takes place during ageing, a lifespan period where thermogenic capacity declines, this being more acute in men than in women. Finally, the vast majority of the studies have reported a higher susceptibility to developing WAT browning amongst females. The scarcity of results highlights the need for further studies devoted to analysing this issue, in order to provide valuable information for a more personalised approach.
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12
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Crandall J, Fraum TJ, Wahl RL. Brown adipose tissue: a protective mechanism in "pre-prediabetes"? J Nucl Med 2022; 63:1433-1440. [PMID: 35393347 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.121.263357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is present in a significant number of adult humans and has been postulated to exert beneficial metabolic effects. Lean, non-diabetic patients undergoing clinical positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging are more likely to exhibit incidental BAT activation. The aim of this study was to assess metabolic changes associated with the cold-activation of BAT and to compare baseline blood metabolites in participants with varying amounts of active BAT. Methods: Serum blood samples were collected from healthy adult volunteers (body mass index 18.0-25.0 and age≤35 years) before and after 2 h cold exposure. 18F-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging was performed immediately following cold exposure. Activated BAT was segmented and fasting glucose, insulin, lipid, and other blood metabolite levels were correlated with volume and intensity of active BAT. Using a median cutoff, subjects were classified as BATHIGH or BATLOW. Results: A higher volume of activated BAT was associated with significantly higher pre-cooling glucose and insulin levels (P<0.001 for each). Pre-cooling thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the BATHIGH than in the BATLOW group (P = 0.002 and P<0.001, respectively). Triglyceride levels tended to increase over the cooling period in both BAT groups, but increased significantly more in the BATHIGH group (15.7±13.2 md/dl; P<0.001) than in the BATLOW group (4.5±12.2 mg/dl; P = 0.061). Conclusion: These findings may indicate that BAT is recruited to counteract incipient "pre-prediabetic" states, potentially serving as a first-line protective mechanism against very early metabolic or hormonal variations.
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13
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Kuroiwa M, Hamaoka‐Fuse S, Amagasa S, Kime R, Endo T, Tanaka R, Kurosawa Y, Hamaoka T. Impact of brown adipose tissue vascular density on body adiposity in healthy Japanese infants and children. Obes Sci Pract 2022; 8:190-198. [PMID: 35388351 PMCID: PMC8976546 DOI: 10.1002/osp4.559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objective The importance of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is well recognized in healthy infants and children. However, information regarding age-related changes in BAT vascular density (BAT-d) and the impact of BAT-d on body adiposity are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the normal values of BAT-d, factors influencing BAT-d, and the impact of BAT-d on body adiposity in healthy infants and children. Methods This study included 240 participants (127 girls and 113 boys) aged 1 month to 5 years. The tissue total hemoglobin concentration in the supraclavicular region adjusted according to the subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SAT) ([total-Hb-Adj]sup) as BAT-d. SAT in the deltoid and interscapular regions (SATdel+int), the Kaup index (body weight [g]/height or length [cm]/height or length [cm] × 10) as body adiposity, and fertilization season were also measured. Results The [total-Hb-Adj]sup of boys was higher than that of girls (r = 0.277, p = 0.009). Younger children had a significantly higher Kaup index (r = 0.495, p < 0.001) and SATdel+int (r = 0.614, p < 0.001) than older children. Children who had higher [total-Hb-Adj]sup had a significantly lower Kaup index (r = 0.495, p = 0.037) and SATdel+int (r = 0.614, p < 0.001). Conclusion The [total-Hb-Adj]sup, as a parameter of BAT-d, is negatively correlated with body adiposity in children aged 1 month to 5 years, and BAT might affect human obesity to a much greater extent than expected. To prevent or treat obesity in early childhood, the level of BAT-d should be considered when using a dietary intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyuki Kuroiwa
- Department of Sports Medicine for Health PromotionTokyo Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Sayuri Hamaoka‐Fuse
- Department of Sports Medicine for Health PromotionTokyo Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Shiho Amagasa
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public HealthTokyo Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Ryotaro Kime
- Department of Sports Medicine for Health PromotionTokyo Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Tasuki Endo
- Department of Sports Medicine for Health PromotionTokyo Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Riki Tanaka
- Department of Sports Medicine for Health PromotionTokyo Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Yuko Kurosawa
- Department of Sports Medicine for Health PromotionTokyo Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Takafumi Hamaoka
- Department of Sports Medicine for Health PromotionTokyo Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
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14
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Xie H, Liu X, Zhou Q, Huang T, Zhang L, Gao J, Wang Y, Liu Y, Yan T, Zhang S, Wang CY. DNA Methylation Modulates Aging Process in Adipocytes. Aging Dis 2022; 13:433-446. [PMID: 35371604 PMCID: PMC8947842 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2021.0904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging has been recognized to be a highly complex biological health problem with a high risk of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Particularly, age-related turnover in adipose tissue is a major contributor to metabolic syndromes and shortened lifespan. Adipocytes undergo senescence in early stage, which results in adipose tissue metabolic dysfunction, redistribution, and inflammation. The well-established association between DNA methylation (DNAm) and aging has been observed in the past few decades. Indeed, age-related alteration in DNAm is highly tissue-specific. This review intends to summarize the advancements how DNAm changes coupled with aging process in adipose tissue, by which DNAm regulates cellular senescence, metabolic function, adipokine secretion and beiging process in adipocytes. Elucidation of the effect of DNAm on adipose aging would have great potential to the development of epigenetic therapeutic strategies against aging-related diseases in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Xie
- The Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Qing Zhou
- The Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Teng Huang
- The Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Lu Zhang
- The Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Jia Gao
- The Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yuhan Wang
- The Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yanjun Liu
- The Center for Obesity and Metabolic Health, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,The Center of Gastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of General Surgery, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu & The affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Tong Yan
- The Center for Obesity and Metabolic Health, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Shu Zhang
- The Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Correspondence should be addressed to: Drs. Cong-Yi Wang () or Shu Zhang (), the Center for Biomedical Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Cong-Yi Wang
- The Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Correspondence should be addressed to: Drs. Cong-Yi Wang () or Shu Zhang (), the Center for Biomedical Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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15
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Klímová J, Mráz M, Kratochvílová H, Lacinová Z, Novák K, Michalský D, Kvasnička J, Holaj R, Haluzíková D, Doležalová RP, Zítek M, Krátká Z, Todorovová V, Widimský J, Haluzík M, Zelinka T, Petrák O. Gene Profile of Adipose Tissue of Patients with Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030586. [PMID: 35327387 PMCID: PMC8945850 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a therapeutic target to combat obesity and related disorders. Pheochromocytoma and functional paraganglioma (PPGL) are associated with activated BAT due to catecholamine excess. Our aim was to evaluate BAT activity by gene profile and assess its relation to clinical characteristics and overproduced catecholamine. Methods: mRNA expression of 15 genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was measured via RT-PCR in 25 patients with PPGL and 14 controls undergoing cholecystectomy. Results: We found in VAT of PPGL higher expression of UCP1 (p < 0.001), CEBPB, PPARGC1A (both p < 0.001), PRDM16 (p = 0.069) and DIO2 (p = 0.005). UCP1 expression correlated only with norepinephrine levels and its metabolite. UCP1 expression, among others, correlated negatively with BMI, age and positively with HDLc levels. Dominance of BAT or BeAT markers was not assessed in PPGL. In SAT of PPGL, we found higher expression of ADRB3, CIDEA (both p < 0.05), and PPARGC1A (p = 0.001), but not UCP1. Conclusion: We demonstrate signs of UCP1-dependent norepinephrine-induced thermogenesis connected with higher expression of DIO2, PPARGC1A, CEBPB and PRDM16 in retroperitoneal VAT of PPGL and its relations to circulating HDLc and triglycerides levels. However, no direct relationship with increased basal energy metabolism measured by calorimetry was found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judita Klímová
- Center of Hypertension, 3rd Department of Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (J.K.); (R.H.); (M.Z.); (Z.K.); (J.W.J.); (T.Z.)
| | - Miloš Mráz
- Center for Experimental Medicine and Diabetes Center, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.M.); (Z.L.); (M.H.)
| | - Helena Kratochvílová
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Zdeňka Lacinová
- Center for Experimental Medicine and Diabetes Center, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.M.); (Z.L.); (M.H.)
| | - Květoslav Novák
- Department of Urology, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - David Michalský
- First Department of Surgery, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Jan Kvasnička
- Center of Hypertension, 3rd Department of Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (J.K.); (R.H.); (M.Z.); (Z.K.); (J.W.J.); (T.Z.)
| | - Robert Holaj
- Center of Hypertension, 3rd Department of Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (J.K.); (R.H.); (M.Z.); (Z.K.); (J.W.J.); (T.Z.)
| | - Denisa Haluzíková
- Institute of Sport Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (D.H.); (R.P.D.)
| | - Radka Petráková Doležalová
- Institute of Sport Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (D.H.); (R.P.D.)
| | - Matěj Zítek
- Center of Hypertension, 3rd Department of Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (J.K.); (R.H.); (M.Z.); (Z.K.); (J.W.J.); (T.Z.)
| | - Zuzana Krátká
- Center of Hypertension, 3rd Department of Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (J.K.); (R.H.); (M.Z.); (Z.K.); (J.W.J.); (T.Z.)
| | - Veronika Todorovová
- Laboratory of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 3rd Department of Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Jiří Widimský
- Center of Hypertension, 3rd Department of Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (J.K.); (R.H.); (M.Z.); (Z.K.); (J.W.J.); (T.Z.)
| | - Martin Haluzík
- Center for Experimental Medicine and Diabetes Center, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.M.); (Z.L.); (M.H.)
| | - Tomáš Zelinka
- Center of Hypertension, 3rd Department of Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (J.K.); (R.H.); (M.Z.); (Z.K.); (J.W.J.); (T.Z.)
| | - Ondřej Petrák
- Center of Hypertension, 3rd Department of Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (J.K.); (R.H.); (M.Z.); (Z.K.); (J.W.J.); (T.Z.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-224-963073
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16
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Watanabe M, Risi R, Tafuri MA, Silvestri V, D'Andrea D, Raimondo D, Rea S, Di Vincenzo F, Profico A, Tuccinardi D, Sciuto R, Basciani S, Mariani S, Lubrano C, Cinti S, Ottini L, Manzi G, Gnessi L. Bone density and genomic analysis unfold cold adaptation mechanisms of ancient inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23290. [PMID: 34857816 PMCID: PMC8639971 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02783-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The Fuegians, ancient inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego, are an exemplary case of a cold-adapted population, since they were capable of living in extreme climatic conditions without any adequate clothing. However, the mechanisms of their extraordinary resistance to cold remain enigmatic. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a crucial role in this kind of adaptation, besides having a protective role on the detrimental effect of low temperatures on bone structure. Skeletal remains of 12 adult Fuegians, collected in the second half of XIX century, were analyzed for bone mineral density and structure. We show that, despite the unfavorable climate, bone mineral density of Fuegians was close to that seen in modern humans living in temperate zones. Furthermore, we report significant differences between Fuegians and other cold-adapted populations in the frequency of the Homeobox protein Hox-C4 (HOXC4) rs190771160 variant, a gene involved in BAT differentiation, whose identified variant is predicted to upregulate HOXC4 expression. Greater BAT accumulation might therefore explain the Fuegians extreme cold-resistance and the protection against major cold-related damage. These results increase our understanding of how ecological challenges have been important drivers of human–environment interactions during Humankind history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikiko Watanabe
- Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Renata Risi
- Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mary Anne Tafuri
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Daniel D'Andrea
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Domenico Raimondo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sandra Rea
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Di Vincenzo
- Natural History Museum-University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Italian Institute of Human Paleontology (IsIPU), Anagni-Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Profico
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Dario Tuccinardi
- Unit of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Sciuto
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabrina Basciani
- Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Mariani
- Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Lubrano
- Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Saverio Cinti
- Center of Obesity, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Laura Ottini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Manzi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucio Gnessi
- Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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17
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Human Brown Adipose Tissue and Metabolic Health: Potential for Therapeutic Avenues. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113030. [PMID: 34831253 PMCID: PMC8616549 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities comprise 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 the accumulation of white adipose tissues mainly due to the chronic imbalance of energy intake and energy expenditure. A 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. A substantially decreased BAT activity in individuals with obesity indicates a role for BAT in the setting of human obesity. On the other hand, BAT mass and its prevalence correlate with lower body mass index (BMI), decreased age and lower glucose levels, leading to a lower incidence of cardio-metabolic diseases. The increased cold exposure in adult humans with undetectable BAT was associated with decreased body fat mass and increased insulin sensitivity. A deeper understanding of the role of BAT in human metabolic health and its interrelationship 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.
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18
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Schnabl K, Li Y, U-Din M, Klingenspor M. Secretin as a Satiation Whisperer With the Potential to Turn into an Obesity-curbing Knight. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6294014. [PMID: 34089599 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The obesity pandemic requires effective preventative and therapeutic intervention strategies. Successful and sustained obesity treatment is currently limited to bariatric surgery. Modulating the release of gut hormones is considered promising to mimic bariatric surgery with its beneficial effects on food intake, body weight, and blood glucose levels. The gut peptide secretin was the first molecule to be termed a hormone; nevertheless, only recently has it been established as a legitimate anorexigenic peptide. In contrast to gut hormones that crosstalk with the brain either directly or by afferent neuronal projections, secretin mediates meal-associated brown fat thermogenesis to induce meal termination, thereby qualifying this physiological mechanism as an attractive, peripheral target for the treatment of obesity. In this perspective, it is of pivotal interest to deepen our as yet superficial knowledge on the physiological roles of secretin as well as meal-associated thermogenesis in energy balance and body weight regulation. Of note, the emerging differences between meal-associated thermogenesis and cold-induced thermogenesis must be taken into account. In fact, there is no correlation between these 2 entities. In addition, the investigation of potential effects of secretin in hedonic-driven food intake, bariatric surgery and chronic treatment using suitable application strategies to overcome pharmacokinetic limitations will provide further insight into its potential to influence energy balance. The aim of this article is to review the facts on secretin's metabolic effects, address prevailing gaps in our knowledge, and provide an overview on the opportunities and challenges of the therapeutic potential of secretin in body weight control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schnabl
- Chair for Molecular Nutritional Medicine, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- EKFZ-Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- ZIEL-Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Yongguo Li
- Chair for Molecular Nutritional Medicine, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- EKFZ-Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Mueez U-Din
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Martin Klingenspor
- Chair for Molecular Nutritional Medicine, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- EKFZ-Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- ZIEL-Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
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19
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Keuper M, Jastroch M. The good and the BAT of metabolic sex differences in thermogenic human adipose tissue. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 533:111337. [PMID: 34062167 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Thermogenic adipose tissue, which comprises classical brown and beige adipose tissue, has the ability to improve systemic metabolism. Its identification in adult humans has fostered extensive investigations on the therapeutic value to counteract obesity and metabolic disorders. Sex and gender differences of human thermogenic adipose tissue, however, are still understudied despite their importance for personalized treatment options. Here, we review studies reporting human sex differences of thermogenic adipose tissue and related potential improvements of systemic energy metabolism. An increasing body of evidence suggests higher prevalence, mass and activity of thermogenic adipose tissue in women, but the consequences for metabolic disease progression and mechanisms are largely unknown. Therefore, we also discuss observations on sex-specific adipose metabolism in experimental mouse and rat studies that may assist to establish molecular mechanisms and instruct future investigations in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Keuper
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, The Arrhenius Laboratories F3, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Martin Jastroch
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, The Arrhenius Laboratories F3, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
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20
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Crandall JP, Wahl RL. Perspectives on Brown Adipose Tissue Imaging: Insights from Preclinical and Clinical Observations from the Last and Current Century. J Nucl Med 2021; 62:34S-43S. [PMID: 34230071 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.246991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) was first described in the 16th century, but until late last century had mainly been considered a tissue with the function of nonshivering thermogenesis, maintaining body temperature in key organs in newborns who have high body surface areas relative to their weight and thus marked radiative heat loss. BAT was believed to have substantially disappeared by adulthood. Molecular imaging with 18F-FDG PET and PET combined with CT, as well as imaging with 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) beginning late last century have shown BAT to be present and active well into adulthood. This review highlights key aspects of BAT biology, early empiric observations misidentifying BAT, pitfalls in image interpretation, and methods to intentionally reduce BAT uptake, and outlines multiple imaging methods used to identify BAT in vivo. The therapeutic potential of increasing the amount or activity of BAT for weight loss and improvement of glucose and lipid profiles is highlighted as a major opportunity. Molecular imaging can help dissect the physiology of this complex dynamic tissue and offers the potential for addressing challenges separating "active BAT" from "total BAT." Research in BAT has grown extensively, and 18F-FDG PET is the key imaging procedure against which all other BAT imaging methods must be compared. Given the multiple functions of BAT, it is reasonable to consider it a previously unrecognized endocrine tissue and thus an appropriate topic for review in this supplement to The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Crandall
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Richard L Wahl
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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21
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McNeill BT, Suchacki KJ, Stimson RH. MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Human brown adipose tissue as a therapeutic target: warming up or cooling down? Eur J Endocrinol 2021; 184:R243-R259. [PMID: 33729178 PMCID: PMC8111330 DOI: 10.1530/eje-20-1439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Excessive accumulation of white adipose tissue leads to obesity and its associated metabolic health consequences such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Several approaches to treat or prevent obesity including public health interventions, surgical weight loss, and pharmacological approaches to reduce caloric intake have failed to substantially modify the increasing prevalence of obesity. The (re-)discovery of active brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adult humans approximately 15 years ago led to a resurgence in research into whether BAT activation could be a novel therapy for the treatment of obesity. Upon cold stimulus, BAT activates and generates heat to maintain body temperature, thus increasing energy expenditure. Activation of BAT may provide a unique opportunity to increase energy expenditure without the need for exercise. However, much of the underlying mechanisms surrounding BAT activation are still being elucidated and the effectiveness of BAT as a therapeutic target has not been realised. Research is ongoing to determine how best to expand BAT mass and activate existing BAT; approaches include cold exposure, pharmacological stimulation using sympathomimetics, browning agents that induce formation of thermogenic beige adipocytes in white adipose depots, and the identification of factors secreted by BAT with therapeutic potential. In this review, we discuss the caloric capacity and other metabolic benefits from BAT activation in humans and the role of metabolic tissues such as skeletal muscle in increasing energy expenditure. We discuss the potential of current approaches and the challenges of BAT activation as a novel strategy to treat obesity and metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben T McNeill
- University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Karla J Suchacki
- University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Roland H Stimson
- University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
- Correspondence should be addressed to R H Stimson Email
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22
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Santhanam P, Rowe SP, Solnes LB, Quainoo B, Ahima RS. A systematic review of imaging studies of human brown adipose tissue. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1495:5-23. [PMID: 33604891 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is involved in energy dissipation and has been linked to weight loss, insulin sensitivity, and reduced risk of atherosclerotic disease. BAT is found most often in the supraclavicular region, as well as mediastinal and paravertebral areas, and it is predominantly seen in young persons. BAT is activated by cold temperature and the sympathetic nervous system. In humans, BAT was initially detected via 2-deoxy-2-[18 F]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), a high-resolution molecular imaging modality used to identify and stage malignancies. Recent studies have shown that BAT can be localized using conventional imaging modalities, such as CT or magnetic resonance imaging, as well as radiotracers used for single-photon emission CT. In this systematic review, we have summarized the evidence for BAT detection in humans using various imaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanna Santhanam
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Steven P Rowe
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Lilja B Solnes
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Brittany Quainoo
- Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Rexford S Ahima
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, Maryland
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23
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Brown Adipose Tissue and Its Role in Insulin and Glucose Homeostasis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041530. [PMID: 33546400 PMCID: PMC7913527 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The increased worldwide prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance, and their related metabolic complications have prompted the scientific world to search for new possibilities to combat obesity. Brown adipose tissue (BAT), due to its unique protein uncoupling protein 1 (UPC1) in the inner membrane of the mitochondria, has been acknowledged as a promising approach to increase energy expenditure. Activated brown adipocytes dissipate energy, resulting in heat production. In other words, BAT burns fat and increases the metabolic rate, promoting a negative energy balance. Moreover, BAT alleviates metabolic complications like dyslipidemia, impaired insulin secretion, and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this review is to explore the role of BAT in total energy expenditure, as well as lipid and glucose homeostasis, and to discuss new possible activators of brown adipose tissue in humans to treat obesity and metabolic disorders.
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Kaikaew K, Grefhorst A, Visser JA. Sex Differences in Brown Adipose Tissue Function: Sex Hormones, Glucocorticoids, and Their Crosstalk. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:652444. [PMID: 33927694 PMCID: PMC8078866 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.652444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive fat accumulation in the body causes overweight and obesity. To date, research has confirmed that there are two types of adipose tissue with opposing functions: lipid-storing white adipose tissue (WAT) and lipid-burning brown adipose tissue (BAT). After the rediscovery of the presence of metabolically active BAT in adults, BAT has received increasing attention especially since activation of BAT is considered a promising way to combat obesity and associated comorbidities. It has become clear that energy homeostasis differs between the sexes, which has a significant impact on the development of pathological conditions such as type 2 diabetes. Sex differences in BAT activity may contribute to this and, therefore, it is important to address the underlying mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in BAT activity. In this review, we discuss the role of sex hormones in the regulation of BAT activity under physiological and some pathological conditions. Given the increasing number of studies suggesting a crosstalk between sex hormones and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in metabolism, we also discuss this crosstalk in relation to sex differences in BAT activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasiphak Kaikaew
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Aldo Grefhorst
- Department of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location AMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jenny A. Visser
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Jenny A. Visser,
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25
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Aging and Immunometabolic Adaptations to Thermogenesis. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 63:101143. [PMID: 32810648 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Brown and subcutaneous adipose tissues play a key role in non-shivering thermogenesis both in mice and human, and their activation by adrenergic stimuli promotes energy expenditure, reduces adiposity, and protects against age-related metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). Low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance characterize T2D. Even though the decline of thermogenic adipose tissues is well-established during ageing, the mechanisms by which this event affects immune system and contributes to the development of T2D is still poorly defined. It is emerging that activation of thermogenic adipose tissues promotes type 2 immunity skewing, limiting type 1 inflammation. Of note, metabolic substrates sustaining type 1 inflammation (e.g. glucose and succinate) are also used by activated adipocytes to promote thermogenesis. Keeping in mind this aspect, a nutrient competition between adipocytes and adipose tissue immune cell infiltrates could be envisaged. Herein, we reviewed the metabolic rewiring of adipocytes during thermogenesis in order to give important insight into the anti-inflammatory role of thermogenic adipose tissues and delineate how their decline during ageing may favor the setting of low-grade inflammatory states that predispose to type 2 diabetes in elderly. A brief description about the contribution of adipokines secreted by thermogenic adipocytes in modulation of immune cell activation is also provided. Finally, we have outlined experimental flow chart procedures and provided technical advices to investigate the physiological processes leading to thermogenic adipose tissue impairment that are behind the immunometabolic decline during aging.
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26
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Dinas PC, Krase A, Nintou E, Georgakopoulos A, Granzotto M, Metaxas M, Karachaliou E, Rossato M, Vettor R, Georgoulias P, S Mayor T, Koutsikos J, Athanasiou K, Ioannou LG, Gkiata P, Carrillo AE, Koutedakis Y, Metsios GS, Jamurtas AZ, Chatziioannou S, Flouris AD. Human white-fat thermogenesis: Experimental and meta-analytic findings. Temperature (Austin) 2020; 8:39-52. [PMID: 33553504 PMCID: PMC7849687 DOI: 10.1080/23328940.2020.1769530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
White adipose tissue (WAT) thermogenic activity may play a role in whole-body energy balance and two of its main regulators are thought to be environmental temperature (Tenv) and exercise. Low Tenv may increase uncoupling protein one (UCP1; the main biomarker of thermogenic activity) in WAT to regulate body temperature. On the other hand, exercise may stimulate UCP1 in WAT, which is thought to alter body weight regulation. However, our understanding of the roles (if any) of Tenv and exercise in WAT thermogenic activity remains incomplete. Our aim was to examine the impacts of low Tenv and exercise on WAT thermogenic activity, which may alter energy homeostasis and body weight regulation. We conducted a series of four experimental studies, supported by two systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We found increased UCP1 mRNA (p = 0.03; but not protein level) in human WAT biopsy samples collected during the cold part of the year, a finding supported by a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO review protocol: CRD42019120116). Additional clinical trials (NCT04037371; NCT04037410) using Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) revealed no impact of low Tenv on human WAT thermogenic activity (p > 0.05). Furthermore, we found no effects of exercise on UCP1 mRNA or protein levels (p > 0.05) in WAT biopsy samples from a human randomized controlled trial (Clinical trial: NCT04039685), a finding supported by systematic review and meta-analytic data (PROSPERO review protocol: CRD42019120213). Taken together, the present experimental and meta-analytic findings of UCP1 and SUVmax, demonstrate that cold and exercise may play insignificant roles in human WAT thermogenic activity. Abbreviations: WAT:White adipose tissue; Tenv: Environmental temperature; UCP1: Uncoupling protein one; BAT: Brown adipose tissue; BMI:Body mass index; mRNA: Messenger ribonucleic acid; RCT: Randomized controlled trial; WHR: Waist-to-hip ratio; PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses; PET/CT: Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography; REE: Resting energy expenditure; 18F-FDG: F18 fludeoxyglucose; VO2peak:Peak oxygen consumption; 1RM: One repetition maximum; SUVmax: Maximum standardized uptake value; Std: Standardized mean difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petros C Dinas
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece.,Faculty of Education Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, UK
| | - Argyro Krase
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
| | - Eleni Nintou
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
| | | | - Marnie Granzotto
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, Internal Medicine 3, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marinos Metaxas
- PET/CT Department, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Elena Karachaliou
- PET/CT Department, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Marco Rossato
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, Internal Medicine 3, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Roberto Vettor
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, Internal Medicine 3, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Tiago S Mayor
- SIMTECH Laboratory, Transport Phenomena Research Centre, Engineering Faculty of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - John Koutsikos
- Nuclear Medicine Department, 401 General Military Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Leonidas G Ioannou
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
| | - Paraskevi Gkiata
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
| | - Andres E Carrillo
- Department of Movement Science, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yiannis Koutedakis
- Faculty of Education Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, UK.,School of Physical Education and Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
| | - George S Metsios
- Faculty of Education Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, UK
| | - Athanasios Z Jamurtas
- School of Physical Education and Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
| | - Sofia Chatziioannou
- PET/CT Department, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas D Flouris
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
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27
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Schnabl K, Li Y, Klingenspor M. The gut hormone secretin triggers a gut-brown fat-brain axis in the control of food intake. Exp Physiol 2020; 105:1206-1213. [PMID: 32271980 DOI: 10.1113/ep087878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the topic of this review? Brown fat's role in meal-associated thermogenesis and the related consequences for energy balance regulation with a focus on the gut hormone secretin, which has been identified as the endocrine molecular mediator of meal-associated brown fat thermogenesis. What advances does it highlight? The finding of the secretin-induced gut-brown fat-brain axis creates new opportunities to manipulate brown fat and thereby energy balance in a natural way while living in a thermoneutral environment. The role of brown fat as a mere catabolic heater organ needs to be revised and more attention should be directed towards the regulatory role of brown fat beyond energy expenditure. ABSTRACT Brown fat research concentrates on the energy expenditure function of this heating organ, whereas previous evidence for a role of brown fat in regulating energy intake has been mostly neglected. Ingestion of a single mixed meal activates human brown fat thermogenesis to the same degree as cold. In mice, activation of brown fat thermogenesis with a β3 -adrenergic receptor agonist inhibits food intake. Pharmacological β-blockade, however, inhibits neither meal-associated thermogenesis nor food intake. We recently identified the gut hormone secretin as a non-adrenergic activator of brown fat. In vivo, secretin treatment acutely increases energy expenditure and inhibits food intake in wild-type, but not in uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-knockout (KO) mice, which lack thermogenic brown fat function. Concurrently, secretin alters gene expression of melanocortinergic peptides of hypothalamic neurons in wild-type mice, but not UCP1-KO. Blocking endogenous secretin with a neutralizing antibody attenuates brown fat thermogenesis during refeeding, increases food intake of mice, and alters ad libitum feeding behaviour. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that secretin triggers an endocrine gut-brown adipose tissue-brain axis in the control of satiation. We hypothesize that meal-associated activation of brown adipose tissue thermogenesis induced by secretin results in a rise in brain temperature and increased melanocortinergic signalling. Taken together, brown fat is not a mere heating organ dissipating excess calories but also involved in gut-brain communication in the control of food intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schnabl
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.,EKFZ - Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.,ZIEL - Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Yongguo Li
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.,EKFZ - Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Martin Klingenspor
- TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.,EKFZ - Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.,ZIEL - Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
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28
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Saito M, Matsushita M, Yoneshiro T, Okamatsu-Ogura Y. Brown Adipose Tissue, Diet-Induced Thermogenesis, and Thermogenic Food Ingredients: From Mice to Men. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:222. [PMID: 32373072 PMCID: PMC7186310 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the recent rediscovery of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adult humans, this thermogenic tissue has been attracting increasing interest. The inverse relationship between BAT activity and body fatness suggests that BAT, because of its energy dissipating activity, is protective against body fat accumulation. Cold exposure activates and recruits BAT, resulting in increased energy expenditure and decreased body fatness. The stimulatory effects of cold exposure are mediated through transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Most TRP members also function as chemesthetic receptors for various food ingredients, and indeed, agonists of TRP vanilloid 1 such as capsaicin and its analog capsinoids mimic the effects of cold exposure to decrease body fatness through the activation and recruitment of BAT. The antiobesity effect of other food ingredients including tea catechins may be attributable, at least in part, to the activation of the TRP-SNS-BAT axis. BAT is also involved in the facultative thermogenesis induced by meal intake, referred to as diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT), which is a significant component of the total energy expenditure in our daily lives. Emerging evidence suggests a crucial role for the SNS in BAT-associated DIT, particularly during the early phase, but several gut-derived humoral factors may also participate in meal-induced BAT activation. One intriguing factor is bile acids, which activate BAT directly through Takeda G-protein receptor 5 (TGR5) in brown adipocytes. Given the apparent beneficial effects of some TRP agonists and bile acids on whole-body substrate and energy metabolism, the TRP/TGR5-BAT axis represents a promising target for combating obesity and related metabolic disorders in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Saito
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Masayuki Saito
| | | | - Takeshi Yoneshiro
- Division of Metabolic Medicine, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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29
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McNeill BT, Morton NM, Stimson RH. Substrate Utilization by Brown Adipose Tissue: What's Hot and What's Not? Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:571659. [PMID: 33101206 PMCID: PMC7545119 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.571659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of brown adipose tissue (BAT) function in humans has increased rapidly over the past 10 years. This is predominantly due to the development of powerful non-invasive imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography that can quantify BAT mass and function using metabolic tracers. Activation of BAT during cold-induced thermogenesis is an effective way to dissipate energy to generate heat and requires utilization of multiple energy substrates for optimal function. This has led to interest in the activation of BAT as a potential therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and obesity. Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of BAT substrate utilization in humans and highlight additional mechanisms found in rodents, where BAT more prominently contributes to energy expenditure. During thermogenesis, BAT demonstrates substantially increased glucose uptake which appears to be critical for BAT function. However, glucose is not fully oxidized, with a large proportion converted to lactate. The primary energy substrate for thermogenesis is fatty acids, released from brown adipocyte triglyceride stores. Active BAT also sequesters circulating lipids to sustain optimal thermogenesis. Recent evidence reveals that metabolic intermediates from the tricarboxylic acid cycle and glycolytic pathways also play a critical role in BAT function. Understanding the role of these metabolites in regulating thermogenesis and whole body substrate utilization may elucidate novel strategies for therapeutic BAT activation.
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30
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Norepinephrine transporter availability in brown fat is reduced in obesity: a human PET study with [ 11C] MRB. Int J Obes (Lond) 2019; 44:964-967. [PMID: 31636373 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-019-0471-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The energy-dissipating properties of brown adipose tissue (BAT) have been proposed as therapeutic targets for obesity and diabetes. Little is known about basal BAT activity. Capitalizing on the dense sympathetic innervation of BAT, we have previously shown that BAT can be detected in humans under resting room temperature (RT) conditions by using (S,S)-11C-O-methylreboxetine (MRB), a selective ligand for the norepinephrine transporter (NET). In this study, we determine whether MRB labeling of human BAT is altered by obesity. Fifteen healthy, nondiabetic Caucasian women (nine lean, age 25.6 ± 1.7, BMI 21.8 ± 1.3 kg/m2; six obese age 30.8 ± 8.8 BMI 37.9 ± 6.6 kg/m2) underwent PET-CT imaging of the neck/supraclavicular region using 11C-MRB under RT conditions. The distribution volume ratio (DVR) for 11C-MRB was estimated via multilinear reference tissue model 2 (MRTM2) referenced to the occipital cortex. Two women (one lean and one with obesity) had no detectable BAT. Of the women with detectable BAT, women with obesity had lower 11C-MRB DVR (0.80 ± 0.12 BAT DVR) compared to lean (1.15 ± 0.19 BAT DVR) (p = 0.004). Our findings are consistent with reports that NET is decreased in obesity and suggest that the sympathetic innervation of BAT is altered in obesity.
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Brendle C, Stefan N, Stef I, Ripkens S, Soekler M, la Fougère C, Nikolaou K, Pfannenberg C. Impact of diverse chemotherapeutic agents and external factors on activation of brown adipose tissue in a large patient collective. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1901. [PMID: 30760750 PMCID: PMC6374459 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37924-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity in adults is thought to prevent obesity. Therefore, regulators of BAT activity might serve as anti-obesity therapy in future, but are not investigated thoroughly up to now. In our study, we assessed retrospectively the association of BAT activity with several external factors and diverse chemotherapeutic and immunosuppressive agents in a collective of 702 patients. The patients underwent at least two clinically indicated PET/CT examinations in the course of different oncological and inflammatory diseases. BAT activity was identified according to predefined PET/CT criteria in all examinations. In multivariate analysis, the type of disease, the disease activity and the therapeutic regimen did not influence BAT activity. In contrast, sex and age were confirmed as independent factors for BAT activity. For the association of therapeutic agents with BAT activity, we examined 53 different disease-related agents, which were applied to patients without initial BAT activity between their PET/CT examinations. Out of these, cytarabine therapy was significantly associated with increased new onset of BAT activity. Cytarabine is a therapeutic agent for lymphoma patients. Further targeted studies might investigate the usefulness of Cytarabine serving as possible therapeutic approach against obesity via BAT regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Brendle
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Eberhard Karls University, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany. .,Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Eberhard Karls University, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Norbert Stefan
- Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Eberhard Karls University, Otfried-Mueller-Straße 10, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Irina Stef
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Eberhard Karls University, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sabine Ripkens
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Eberhard Karls University, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Martin Soekler
- Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, Rheumatology and Pulmology, Department of Internal Medicine, Eberhard Karls University, Otfried-Mueller-Straße 10, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Christian la Fougère
- Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Eberhard Karls University, Otfried-Mueller-Straße 14, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Konstantin Nikolaou
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Eberhard Karls University, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Christina Pfannenberg
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Eberhard Karls University, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
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Zoico E, Rubele S, De Caro A, Nori N, Mazzali G, Fantin F, Rossi A, Zamboni M. Brown and Beige Adipose Tissue and Aging. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:368. [PMID: 31281288 PMCID: PMC6595248 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Across aging, adipose tissue (AT) changes its quantity and distribution: AT becomes dysfunctional with an increase in production of inflammatory peptides, a decline of those with anti-inflammatory activity and infiltration of macrophages. Adipose organ dysfunction may lead to age-related metabolic alterations. Aging is characterized by an increase in adiposity and a decline in brown adipose tissue (BAT) depots and activity, and UCP1 expression. There are many possible links to age-associated involution of BAT, including the loss of mitochondrial function, impairment of the sympathetic nervous system, age-induced alteration of brown adipogenic stem/progenitor cell function and changes in endocrine signals. Aging is also associated with a reduction in beige adipocyte formation. Beige adipocytes are known to differentiate from a sub-population of progenitors resident in white adipose tissue (WAT); a defective ability of progenitor cells to proliferate and differentiate has been hypothesized with aging. The loss of beige adipocytes with age may be caused by changes in trophic factors in the adipose tissue microenvironment, which regulate progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. This review focuses on possible mechanisms involved in the reduction of BAT and beige activity with aging, along with possible targets for age-related metabolic disease therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Zoico
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- *Correspondence: Elena Zoico
| | - Sofia Rubele
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Annamaria De Caro
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Nicole Nori
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gloria Mazzali
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesco Fantin
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Rossi
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Mauro Zamboni
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatric and Gynecology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Carpentier AC, Blondin DP, Virtanen KA, Richard D, Haman F, Turcotte ÉE. Brown Adipose Tissue Energy Metabolism in Humans. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:447. [PMID: 30131768 PMCID: PMC6090055 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The demonstration of metabolically active brown adipose tissue (BAT) in humans primarily using positron emission tomography coupled to computed tomography (PET/CT) with the glucose tracer 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) has renewed the interest of the scientific and medical community in the possible role of BAT as a target for the prevention and treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, we offer a comprehensive review of BAT energy metabolism in humans. Considerable advances in methods to measure BAT energy metabolism, including nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), chylomicron-triglycerides (TG), oxygen, Krebs cycle rate, and intracellular TG have led to very good quantification of energy substrate metabolism per volume of active BAT in vivo. These studies have also shown that intracellular TG are likely the primary energy source of BAT upon activation by cold. Current estimates of BAT's contribution to energy expenditure range at the lower end of what would be potentially clinically relevant if chronically sustained. Yet, 18FDG PET/CT remains the gold-standard defining method to quantify total BAT volume of activity, used to calculate BAT's total energy expenditure. Unfortunately, BAT glucose metabolism better reflects BAT's insulin sensitivity and blood flow. It is now clear that most glucose taken up by BAT does not fuel mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and that BAT glucose uptake can therefore be disconnected from thermogenesis. Furthermore, BAT thermogenesis is efficiently recruited upon repeated cold exposure, doubling to tripling its total oxidative capacity, with reciprocal reduction of muscle thermogenesis. Recent data suggest that total BAT volume may be much larger than the typically observed 50-150 ml with 18FDG PET/CT. Therefore, the current estimates of total BAT thermogenesis, largely relying on total BAT volume using 18FDG PET/CT, may underestimate the true contribution of BAT to total energy expenditure. Quantification of the contribution of BAT to energy expenditure begs for the development of more integrated whole body in vivo methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- André C. Carpentier
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Centre de Recherche du CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | | | - Kirsi A. Virtanen
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Kuopio, Finland
| | - Denis Richard
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - François Haman
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Éric E. Turcotte
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Centre de Recherche du CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Bytautiene Prewit E, Porter C, La Rosa M, Bhattarai N, Yin H, Gamble P, Kechichian T, Sidossis LS. Adipose tissue uncoupling protein 1 levels and function are increased in a mouse model of developmental obesity induced by maternal exposure to high-fat diet. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2018; 9:401-408. [PMID: 29769150 PMCID: PMC6070410 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174418000107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
With brown adipose tissue (BAT) becoming a possible therapeutic target to counteract obesity, the prenatal environment could represent a critical window to modify BAT function and browning of white AT. We investigated if levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and UCP1-mediated thermogenesis are altered in offspring exposed to prenatal obesity. Female CD-1 mice were fed a high-fat (HF) or standard-fat (SF) diet for 3 months before breeding. After weaning, all pups were placed on SF. UCP1 mRNA and protein levels were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively, in brown (BAT), subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissues at 6 months of age. Total and UCP1-dependent mitochondrial respiration were determined by high-resolution respirometry. A Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney test were used (significance: P<0.05). UCP1 mRNA levels were not different between the HF and SF offspring. UCP1 protein levels, total mitochondrial respiration and UCP1-dependent respiration were significantly higher in BAT from HF males (P=0.02, P=0.04, P=0.005, respectively) and females (P=0.01, P=0.04, P=0.02, respectively). In SAT, the UCP1 protein was significantly lower in HF females (P=0.03), and the UCP1-dependent thermogenesis was significantly lower from HF males (P=0.04). In VAT, UCP1 protein levels and UCP1-dependent respiration were significantly lower only in HF females (P=0.03, P=0.04, respectively). There were no differences in total respiration in SAT and VAT. Prenatal exposure to maternal obesity leads to significant increases in UCP1 levels and function in BAT in offspring with little impact on UCP1 levels and function in SAT and VAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bytautiene Prewit
- 1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology,The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,Galveston,TX,USA
| | - C Porter
- 2Department of Surgery,The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,Shriners Hospitals for Children,Galveston,TX,USA
| | - M La Rosa
- 1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology,The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,Galveston,TX,USA
| | - N Bhattarai
- 2Department of Surgery,The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,Shriners Hospitals for Children,Galveston,TX,USA
| | - H Yin
- 1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology,The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,Galveston,TX,USA
| | - P Gamble
- 1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology,The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,Galveston,TX,USA
| | - T Kechichian
- 1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology,The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,Galveston,TX,USA
| | - L S Sidossis
- 2Department of Surgery,The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,Shriners Hospitals for Children,Galveston,TX,USA
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Fuse S, Nirengi S, Amagasa S, Homma T, Kime R, Endo T, Sakane N, Matsushita M, Saito M, Yoneshiro T, Kurosawa Y, Hamaoka T. Brown adipose tissue density measured by near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy in Japanese, across a wide age range. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2018; 23:1-9. [PMID: 29900702 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.23.6.065002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
F18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) along with computed tomography (CT) is a standard method for assessing brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity. We tested the usefulness of near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy (NIRTRS) as a simple and noninvasive method for evaluating BAT density (BAT-d) by examining the effects of some factors known to influence BAT activity. The total hemoglobin concentration as a parameter of BAT-d was evaluated using NIRTRS in the supraclavicular region in 413 Japanese individuals. The associations were analyzed between BAT-d and sex, age, the percentages of body fat (%BF), visceral fat (VF), and the seasonal ambient temperature (AmT) fluctuations. Age was associated with decreased BAT-d (P < 0.05). There was no sex difference in the BAT-d, except for those in their twenties. Multivariate analyses revealed that %BF and VF were correlated with BAT-d, and the lower AmT (around 4°C or 5°C) for 4 and 6 weeks prior to the measurement day was associated with an increase in the BAT-d. Our NIRTRS results were analogous to those reported with FDG18-PET / CT, indicating the usefulness of NIRTRS. BAT-d might increase during the 4 and 6 weeks after the AmT decreases to lower than 4°C or 5°C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayuri Fuse
- Tokyo Medical University, Department of Sports Medicine for Health Promotion, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Nirengi
- Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Division of Preven, Japan
| | - Shiho Amagasa
- Tokyo Medical University, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Homma
- Daito Bunka University, Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Higashimatsuyama-shi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ryotaro Kime
- Tokyo Medical University, Department of Sports Medicine for Health Promotion, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tasuki Endo
- Tokyo Medical University, Department of Sports Medicine for Health Promotion, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoki Sakane
- Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Division of Preven, Japan
| | - Mami Matsushita
- Tenshi College, Department of Nutrition, Higashi-ku, Sapporo, Japan
| | | | - Takeshi Yoneshiro
- University of California, UCSF Diabetes Center, Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, San Francisco, United States
| | - Yuko Kurosawa
- Tokyo Medical University, Department of Sports Medicine for Health Promotion, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takafumi Hamaoka
- Tokyo Medical University, Department of Sports Medicine for Health Promotion, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Correlation of Brown Adipose Tissue with Other Body Fat Compartments and Patient Characteristics: A Retrospective Analysis in a Large Patient Cohort Using PET/CT. Acad Radiol 2018; 25:102-110. [PMID: 29108812 DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to assess the relationship of brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity with different fat compartments of the body, body mass index (BMI), outdoor temperature, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, blood glucose, age, and sex in a large patient population using F-18-fluordesoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computer tomography (FDG-PET/CT) scans obtained under thermoneutral conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS FDG-PET/CT scans of 4852 patients were retrospectively analyzed for BAT activity. The volumes of the different fat compartments visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT), and liver fat, were assessed by computed tomography. Age, sex, TSH levels, blood glucose levels, BMI, primary disease, and the outdoor temperature were determined. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify independent relationships between the parameters. RESULTS The VAT, SCAT, and liver fat content were lower in BAT-positive patients than in BAT-negative patients (each P < 0.0001). BAT-positive patients had a lower BMI (P < 0.0001) and were more often female (P < 0.0001), younger (P < 0.0001), and had higher TSH levels (P = 0.0002), whereas the outdoor temperature and the blood glucose level were not different compared to BAT-negative patients. Age, sex, VAT, and SCAT were independent factors related to BAT. CONCLUSIONS Age, sex, and VAT are the most important determinants of BAT activity under thermoneutral conditions. VAT reflects the association between BAT activity and body fat mass more clearly than BMI. The strength of the association between VAT and BAT decreases during aging in men, but increases in women. This may indicate a different importance of BAT activity for obesity in men and in women.
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Steinberg JD, Vogel W, Vegt E. Factors influencing brown fat activation in FDG PET/CT: a retrospective analysis of 15,000+ cases. Br J Radiol 2017; 90:20170093. [PMID: 28590773 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20170093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Brown fat can exhibit high uptake of fluorine-18 fludeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) on positron emission tomography (PET) and interferes with interpretation of the scan. The goal of this study was to identify factors that may influence brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation. METHODS A retrospective study of 18F-FDG PET scans was performed using a database of 15,109 PET/CT reports. BAT activation reported by nuclear medicine physicians and factors influencing BAT activation were gathered. The data were analyzed using in-house software. RESULTS The total reported BAT activation was 3.6%. BAT activation was reported significantly more often in patients who were female (p < 0.0001), younger (p < 0.0001), with lower body mass index (p < 0.0001), with lower blood glucose levels (p = 0.01), indicated for breast cancer (p = 0.004), not administered chemotherapy recently before the scan (p < 0.0001) and shown to have BAT activation in a previous scan (p < 0.0001). BAT activation was also reported significantly more for lower outdoor temperatures (p < 0.0001) and for late morning scans than for afternoon (p = 0.005) and early morning (p = 0.001) scans. CONCLUSION This retrospective study of 15,109 scans highlights multiple factors contributing to BAT activation on 18F-FDG PET. The identification of new factors influencing BAT and confirmation of previously identified factors with a larger data set can be used to more accurately identify patients at risk for BAT activation so that prevention strategies can be implemented. Advances in knowledge: This study presents new factors associated with higher incidence of BAT activation, such as time of day, previous BAT activation and breast cancer. Conversely, recent chemotherapy was associated with reduced incidence of BAT activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Steinberg
- 1 Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Aging (MCCA) Imaging Unit, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wouter Vogel
- 2 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Erik Vegt
- 2 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Gerngroß C, Schretter J, Klingenspor M, Schwaiger M, Fromme T. Active Brown Fat During 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging Defines a Patient Group with Characteristic Traits and an Increased Probability of Brown Fat Redetection. J Nucl Med 2017; 58:1104-1110. [PMID: 28104743 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.116.183988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) provides a means of nonshivering thermogenesis. In humans, active BAT can be visualized by 18F-FDG uptake as detected by PET combined with CT. The retrospective analysis of clinical scans is a valuable source to identify anthropometric parameters that influence BAT mass and activity and thus the potential efficacy of envisioned drugs targeting this tissue to treat metabolic disease. Methods: We analyzed 2,854 18F-FDG PET/CT scans from 1,644 patients and identified 98 scans from 81 patients with active BAT. We quantified the volume of active BAT depots (mean values in mL ± SD: total BAT, 162 ± 183 [n = 98]; cervical, 40 ± 37 [n = 53]; supraclavicular, 66 ± 68 [n = 71]; paravertebral, 51 ± 53 [n = 69]; mediastinal, 43 ± 40 [n = 51]; subphrenic, 21 ± 21 [n = 29]). Because only active BAT is detectable by 18F-FDG uptake, these numbers underestimate the total amount of BAT. Considering only 32 scans of the highest activity as categorized by a visual scoring strategy, we determined a mean total BAT volume of 308 ± 208 mL. In 30 BAT-positive patients with 3 or more repeated scans, we calculated a much higher mean probability to redetect active BAT (52% ± 25%) as compared with the overall prevalence of 4.9%. We calculated a BAT activity index (BFI) based on volume and intensity of individual BAT depots. Results: We detected higher total BFI in younger patients (P = 0.009), whereas sex, body mass index, height, mass, outdoor temperature, and blood parameters did not affect total or depot-specific BAT activity. Surprisingly, renal creatinine clearance as estimated from mass, age, and plasma creatinine was a significant predictor of BFI on the total (P = 0.005) as well as on the level of several individual depots. In summary, we detected a high amount of more than 300 mL of BAT tissue. Conclusion: BAT-positive patients represent a group with a higher than usual probability to activate BAT during a scan. Estimated renal creatinine clearance correlated with the extent of activated BAT in a given scan. These data imply an efficacy of drugs targeting BAT to treat metabolic disease that is at the same time higher and subject to a larger individual variation than previously assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Gerngroß
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Johanna Schretter
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Klingenspor
- Molecular Nutritional Medicine, ZIEL-Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany; and.,Molecular Nutritional Medicine, Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Markus Schwaiger
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Fromme
- Molecular Nutritional Medicine, ZIEL-Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany; and.,Molecular Nutritional Medicine, Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
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Anthanont P, Levine JA, McCrady-Spitzer SK, Jensen MD. Lack of Seasonal Differences in Basal Metabolic Rate in Humans: A Cross-Sectional Study. Horm Metab Res 2017; 49:30-35. [PMID: 27410533 PMCID: PMC5405856 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-107793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Some studies indicate that basal metabolic rate is greater in winter than in the summer, suggesting a role for brown fat in human thermogenesis. We examined whether there are clinically meaningful differences in basal metabolic rate under thermoneutral conditions between winter and summer months in inhabitants of Rochester, Minnesota. We collated data from 220 research volunteers studied in the winter (December 1 - February 28) and 214 volunteers studied in the summer (June 1 - August 31), 1995-2012. Basal metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetry and body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The effect of season on basal metabolic rate was tested using multivariate regression analysis with basal metabolic rate as the dependent variable and fat-free mass, fat mass, age, sex, and season as the independent variables. The groups were comparable with respect to age, body mass index, fat mass, and fat-free mass. There was no significant difference in basal metabolic rate between winter and summer groups (1 667±322 vs. 1 669±330 kcal/day). Both winter and summer basal metabolic rates were strongly predicted by fat-free mass (Pearson's r=0.75 and r=0.77, respectively, p <0.0001). Using multiple linear regression analysis, basal metabolic rate was significantly, independently predicted by fat-free mass, fat mass, age, and sex, but not season. We conclude that the lack of seasonal variation of thermoneutral basal metabolic rate between winter and summer suggests that modern, Western populations do not engage thermogenically detectable brown fat activity during periods of living in a cold climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pimjai Anthanont
- Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, 200 1 St SW, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - James A. Levine
- Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, 200 1 St SW, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | | | - Michael D. Jensen
- Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, 200 1 St SW, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
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Saito M, Yoneshiro T, Matsushita M. Activation and recruitment of brown adipose tissue by cold exposure and food ingredients in humans. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2016; 30:537-547. [PMID: 27697214 DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Since the recent re-discovery of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adult humans, this thermogenic tissue has attracted increasing interest. The inverse relationship between the BAT activity and body fatness suggests that BAT, because of its energy dissipating activity, is protective against body fat accumulation. Cold exposure activates and recruits BAT in association with increased energy expenditure and decreased body fatness. The stimulatory effects of cold are mediated through transient receptor potential channels (TRP), most of which are also chemesthetic receptors for various food ingredients. In fact, capsaicin and its analog capsinoids, representative agonists of TRPV1, mimic the effects of cold to decrease body fatness through the activation and recruitment of BAT. The anti-obesity effect of some other food ingredients including tea catechins may also be attributable to the activation of the TRP-BAT axis. Thus, BAT is a promising target for combating obesity and related metabolic disorders in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Saito
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan; Department of Nutrition, Tenshi College, Sapporo 065-0013, Japan.
| | - Takeshi Yoneshiro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Mami Matsushita
- Department of Nutrition, Tenshi College, Sapporo 065-0013, Japan.
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Thuzar M, Ho KKY. MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Brown adipose tissue in humans: regulation and metabolic significance. Eur J Endocrinol 2016; 175:R11-25. [PMID: 27220620 DOI: 10.1530/eje-15-1217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The recent discovery that functional brown adipose tissue (BAT) persists in adult humans has enkindled a renaissance in metabolic research, with a view of harnessing its thermogenic capacity to combat obesity. This review focuses on the advances in the regulation and the metabolic significance of BAT in humans. BAT activity in humans is stimulated by cold exposure and by several factors such as diet and metabolic hormones. BAT function is regulated at two levels: an acute process involving the stimulation of the intrinsic thermogenic activity of brown adipocytes and a chronic process of growth involving the proliferation of pre-existing brown adipocytes or differentiation to brown adipocytes of adipocytes from specific white adipose tissue depots. BAT activity is reduced in the obese, and its stimulation by cold exposure increases insulin sensitivity and reduces body fat. These observations provide strong evidence that BAT plays a significant role in energy balance in humans and has the potential to be harnessed as a therapeutic target for the management of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moe Thuzar
- Department of Endocrinology and DiabetesPrincess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaSchool of MedicineUniversity of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia Department of Endocrinology and DiabetesPrincess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaSchool of MedicineUniversity of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Ken K Y Ho
- Department of Endocrinology and DiabetesPrincess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaSchool of MedicineUniversity of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia Department of Endocrinology and DiabetesPrincess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaSchool of MedicineUniversity of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
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Bahler L, Deelen JW, Hoekstra JB, Holleman F, Verberne HJ. Seasonal influence on stimulated BAT activity in prospective trials: a retrospective analysis of BAT visualized on 18F-FDG PET-CTs and 123I-mIBG SPECT-CTs. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2016; 120:1418-23. [DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00008.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Retrospective studies have shown that outdoor temperature influences the prevalence of detectable brown adipose tissue (BAT). Prospective studies use acute cold exposure to activate BAT. In prospective studies, BAT might be preconditioned in winter months leading to an increased BAT response to various stimuli. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess whether outdoor temperatures and other weather characteristics modulate the response of BAT to acute cold. To assess metabolic BAT activity and sympathetic outflow to BAT, 64 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and 56 additional 123I- meta-iodobenzylguanidine (123I- mIBG) single-photon emission computed tomography-CT (SPECT-CT) scans, respectively, of subjects participating in previously executed trials were retrospectively included. BAT activity was measured in subjects after an overnight fast, following 2 h of cold exposure (∼17°C). The average daytime outdoor temperatures and other weather characteristics were obtained from the Dutch Royal Weather Institute. Forty-nine subjects were BAT positive. One week prior to the scan, outdoor temperature was significantly lower in the BAT-positive group compared with the BAT-negative group. Higher outdoor temperatures on preceding days resulted in lower stimulated metabolic BAT activity and volume (all P < 0.01). Outdoor temperatures did not correlate with sympathetic outflow to BAT. In conclusion, outdoor temperatures influence metabolic BAT activity and volume, but not sympathetic outflow to BAT, in subjects exposed to acute cold. To improve the consistency of the findings of future BAT studies in humans and to exclude bias introduced by outdoor temperatures, these studies should be planned in periods of similar outdoor temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lonneke Bahler
- Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and
| | - Jan W. Deelen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and
| | - Joost B. Hoekstra
- Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and
| | - Frits Holleman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and
| | - Hein J. Verberne
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas D Flouris
- Department of Exercise Science, FAME Laboratory, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece.
| | - Petros C Dinas
- Department of Exercise Science, FAME Laboratory, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
- Institute of Sport, Faculty of Education, Health, and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, UK
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Capsaicin and Related Food Ingredients Reducing Body Fat Through the Activation of TRP and Brown Fat Thermogenesis. ADVANCES IN FOOD AND NUTRITION RESEARCH 2015; 76:1-28. [PMID: 26602570 DOI: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a site of sympathetically activated adaptive nonshivering thermogenesis, thereby being involved in the regulation of energy balance and body fatness. Recent radionuclide imaging studies have revealed the existence of metabolically active BAT in adult humans. Human BAT is activated by acute cold exposure and contributes to cold-induced increase in whole-body energy expenditure. The metabolic activity of BAT is lower in older and obese individuals. The inverse relationship between the BAT activity and body fatness suggests that BAT, because of its energy dissipating activity, is protective against body fat accumulation. In fact, repeated cold exposure recruits BAT in association with increased energy expenditure and decreased body fatness. The stimulatory effects of cold are mediated through the activation of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, most of which are also chemesthetic receptors for various naturally occurring substances including herbal plants and food ingredients. Capsaicin and its analog capsinoids, representative agonists of TRPV1, mimic the effects of cold to decrease body fatness through the activation and recruitment of BAT. The well-known antiobesity effect of green tea catechins is also attributable to the activation of the sympathetic nerve and BAT system. Thus, BAT is a promising target for combating obesity and related metabolic disorders in humans.
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Gao X, van der Veen JN, Fernandez-Patron C, Vance JE, Vance DE, Jacobs RL. Insufficient glucose supply is linked to hypothermia upon cold exposure in high-fat diet-fed mice lacking PEMT. J Lipid Res 2015; 56:1701-10. [PMID: 26113536 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m059287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice that lack phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (Pemt(-/-) mice) are protected from high-fat (HF) diet-induced obesity. HF-fed Pemt(-/-) mice show higher oxygen consumption and heat production, indicating that more energy might be utilized for thermogenesis and might account for the resistance to diet-induced weight gain. To test this hypothesis, HF-fed Pemt(-/-) and Pemt(+/+) mice were challenged with acute cold exposure at 4°C. Unexpectedly, HF-fed Pemt(-/-) mice developed hypothermia within 3 h of cold exposure. In contrast, chow-fed Pemt(-/-) mice, possessing similar body mass, maintained body temperature. Lack of PEMT did not impair the capacity for thermogenesis in skeletal muscle or brown adipose tissue. Plasma catecholamines were not altered by Pemt genotype, and stimulation of lipolysis was intact in brown and white adipose tissue of Pemt(-/-) mice. HF-fed Pemt(-/-) mice also developed higher systolic blood pressure, accompanied by reduced cardiac output. Choline supplementation reversed the cold-induced hypothermia in HF-fed Pemt(-/-) mice with no effect on blood pressure. Plasma glucose levels were ∼50% lower in HF-fed Pemt(-/-) mice compared with Pemt(+/+) mice. Choline supplementation normalized plasma hypoglycemia and the expression of proteins involved in gluconeogenesis. We propose that cold-induced hypothermia in HF-fed Pemt(-/-) mice is linked to plasma hypoglycemia due to compromised hepatic glucose production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Gao
- Group on the Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada Departments of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Jelske N van der Veen
- Group on the Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada Departments of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | | | - Jean E Vance
- Group on the Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Dennis E Vance
- Group on the Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada Departments of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - René L Jacobs
- Group on the Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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Prolonged daily light exposure increases body fat mass through attenuation of brown adipose tissue activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:6748-53. [PMID: 25964318 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1504239112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of circadian rhythmicity is associated with obesity and related disorders, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Specifically, prolonged artificial light exposure associates with obesity in humans, although the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we report that increasing the daily hours of light exposure increases body adiposity through attenuation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity, a major contributor of energy expenditure. Mice exposed to a prolonged day length of 16- and 24-h light, compared with regular 12-h light, showed increased adiposity without affecting food intake or locomotor activity. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that prolonged day length decreases sympathetic input into BAT and reduces β3-adrenergic intracellular signaling. Concomitantly, prolonging day length decreased the uptake of fatty acids from triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, as well as of glucose from plasma selectively by BAT. We conclude that impaired BAT activity is an important mediator in the association between disturbed circadian rhythm and adiposity, and anticipate that activation of BAT may overcome the adverse metabolic consequences of disturbed circadian rhythmicity.
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Celi FS, Le TN, Ni B. Physiology and relevance of human adaptive thermogenesis response. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2015; 26:238-47. [PMID: 25869212 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2015.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In homoeothermic organisms, the preservation of core temperature represents a primal function, and its costs in terms of energy expenditure can be considerable. In modern humans, the endogenous thermoregulation mechanisms have been replaced by clothing and environmental control, and the maintenance of thermoneutrality has been successfully achieved by manipulation of the micro- and macroenvironment. The rediscovery of the presence and activity of brown adipose tissue in adult humans has renewed the interest on adaptive thermogenesis (AT) as a means to facilitate weight loss and improve carbohydrate metabolism. The aim of this review is to describe the recent advancements in the study of this function, and to assess the potential and limitations of exploiting AT for environmental/behavioral, and pharmacological interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco S Celi
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
| | - Trang N Le
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Bin Ni
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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Saito M. Brown Adipose Tissue as a Therapeutic Target for Obesity: From Mice to Humans. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.7570/kjo.2015.24.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Abstract
It was previously assumed that brown adipose tissue (BAT) is present in humans only for a short period following birth, the time in which mechanisms of generating heat by way of shivering are not yet developed. Although BAT is maximally recruited in early infancy, findings in recent years have led to a new consensus that metabolically active BAT remains present in most children and many adult humans. Evidence to date supports a slow and steady decline in BAT activity throughout life, with the exception of an intriguing spike in the prevalence and volume of BAT around the time of puberty that remains poorly understood. Because BAT activity is more commonly observed in individuals with a lower body mass index, an association seen in both adult and pediatric populations, there is the exciting possibility that BAT is protective against childhood and adult obesity. Indeed, the function and metabolic relevance of human BAT is currently an area of vigorous research. The goal of this review is to summarize what is currently known about changes that occur in BAT during various stages of life, with a particular emphasis on puberty and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole H Rogers
- California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr) , La Jolla, CA 92037 , USA
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50
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Dinas PC, Nikaki A, Jamurtas AZ, Prassopoulos V, Efthymiadou R, Koutedakis Y, Georgoulias P, Flouris AD. Association between habitual physical activity and brown adipose tissue activity in individuals undergoing PET-CT scan. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2015; 82:147-54. [PMID: 25262810 DOI: 10.1111/cen.12620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Revised: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Augmented brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass and activity lead to higher basic metabolic rate which is beneficial against obesity. Our aim was to investigate whether habitual (i.e. usual weekly participation) physical activity is linked with BAT activity and mass in humans, in a group of patients undergoing (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scanning. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. PATIENTS Forty patients with cancer [26 male; 14 female; age 52·7 ± 17·5; body mass index (BMI) 26·4 ± 4·5]. MEASUREMENTS Patients completed the 'usual week' form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and underwent assessment of BAT activity/mass via (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT. RESULTS We detected a significant association between habitual physical activity (METs-minute/week) and BAT activity [normalized by body weight (BW) (τ = 0·28, P = 0·02), body surface area (BSA) (τ = 0·29, P = 0·02) and lean body mass (LBM) (τ = 0·38, P = 0·002)]. We also found a significant negative relationship between BMI and BAT activity [normalized by BW (τ = -0·30, P = 0·006), BSA (τ = -0·31, P = 0·004) and LBM (τ = -0·45, P = 0·001)] as well as a significant negative relationship between age and BAT activity [normalized by LBM (τ = -0·28, P = 0·01)]. The results also indicate significant differences between low/moderate/high levels of habitual physical activity and BAT activity (P < 0·05). Moreover, BAT activity was different across the BMI categories (normal/overweight/obese) in both sexes (P < 0·05). Finally, BAT activity was greater in women than in men (P < 0·05). CONCLUSIONS Increased participation in habitual physical activity is associated with higher BAT activity. Moreover, individuals with normal BMI demonstrate higher BAT activity compared to overweight and obese individuals. Finally, age is inversely linked with BAT activity, while women demonstrate higher BAT activity than men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petros C Dinas
- FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
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