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A role for nuclear receptors in mammalian hibernation
Author(s) -
Nelson Clark J.,
Otis Jessica P.,
Carey Hannah V.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.167692
Subject(s) - nuclear receptor , biology , hibernation (computing) , receptor , energy homeostasis , transcription factor , peroxisome proliferator activated receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , retinoid x receptor , adipose tissue , endocrinology , medicine , biochemistry , gene , state (computer science) , algorithm , computer science
Hibernation is one of the most dramatic examples of phenotypic plasticity in mammals. During periods of food shortage and/or reduced ambient temperatures hibernating mammals become heterothermic, allowing their body temperature to decrease while entering an energy‐conserving torpid state. In order to survive the multi‐month hibernation season many species engage in hyperphagy, dramatically increasing adipose stores prior to the onset of hibernation. Nuclear receptors are a superfamily of transcription factors many of which bind lipophilic molecules as ligands. They regulate a variety of processes including energy homeostasis, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, inflammation and circadian rhythm. Given that lipids are integral in the hibernation phenotype they may play important regulatory roles through their interactions with nuclear receptors. Here we review current knowledge and suggest possible roles in mammalian hibernation for peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs), farnesoid X receptors (FXRs), liver X receptors (LXRs), retinoid‐related orphan receptors (RORs) and Rev‐ERBs.