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Molecular pathways regulating the formation of brown‐like adipocytes in white adipose tissue
Author(s) -
Fu Jianfei,
Li Zhen,
Zhang Huiqin,
Mao Yushan,
Wang Anshi,
Wang Xin,
Zou Zuquan,
Zhang Xiaohong
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1520-7560
pISSN - 1520-7552
DOI - 10.1002/dmrr.2600
Subject(s) - adipose tissue , white adipose tissue , brown adipose tissue , adipocyte , prdm16 , biology , adipose tissue macrophages , adipogenesis , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , thermogenin
Summary Adipose tissue is functionally composed of brown adipose tissue and white adipose tissue. The unique thermogenic capacity of brown adipose tissue results from expression of uncoupling protein 1 in the mitochondrial inner membrane. On the basis of recent findings that adult humans have functionally active brown adipose tissue, it is now recognized as playing a much more important role in human metabolism than was previously thought. More importantly, brown‐like adipocytes can be recruited in white adipose tissue upon environmental stimulation and pharmacologic treatment, and this change is associated with increased energy expenditure, contributing to a lean and healthy phenotype. Thus, the promotion of brown‐like adipocyte development in white adipose tissue offers novel possibilities for the development of therapeutic strategies to combat obesity and related metabolic diseases. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the recruitment of brown‐like adipocyte in white adipose tissue. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.