Brown adipose tissue in adult humans: A mini review

Adipose tissue is of two types: white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). For a long time, it was considered that BAT is present only in hibernating animals and newborns, conferring them a protection from the cold environment. However, radionuclide imaging studies have shown that BA...

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Main Authors: V S Kiranmayi, K M Bhargav
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Scientific Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jcsr.co.in/article.asp?issn=2277-5706;year=2019;volume=8;issue=1;spage=24;epage=28;aulast=Kiranmayi
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author V S Kiranmayi
K M Bhargav
author_facet V S Kiranmayi
K M Bhargav
author_sort V S Kiranmayi
collection DOAJ
description Adipose tissue is of two types: white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). For a long time, it was considered that BAT is present only in hibernating animals and newborns, conferring them a protection from the cold environment. However, radionuclide imaging studies have shown that BAT is also present in adult human beings and plays an important role in energy metabolism. This has resulted in a resurgence of interest on BAT in the researchers. The molecular mechanisms underlying the thermogenic role of BAT and various factors that can induce the formation and activity of BAT are being explored. The thermogenic effect of BAT is mediated by uncoupling protein 1, also known as thermogenin. Several factors such as exposure to cold, stimulation by sympathetic nervous system, thyroid hormones and other endocrine factors induce brown adipogenesis and its activity. An inverse relationship exists between BAT and body weight. The increasing prevalence of obesity globally and its association with various complications makes it essential to search for therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat obesity. In this regard, BAT with its ability to dissipate energy in the form of heat appears to be a potential therapeutic target for the management of obesity.
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spelling doaj.art-747526f648a14ddd82f5b3c79c2c16692022-12-22T00:43:01ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Clinical and Scientific Research2277-57062277-83572019-01-0181242810.4103/JCSR.JCSR_35_19Brown adipose tissue in adult humans: A mini reviewV S KiranmayiK M BhargavAdipose tissue is of two types: white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). For a long time, it was considered that BAT is present only in hibernating animals and newborns, conferring them a protection from the cold environment. However, radionuclide imaging studies have shown that BAT is also present in adult human beings and plays an important role in energy metabolism. This has resulted in a resurgence of interest on BAT in the researchers. The molecular mechanisms underlying the thermogenic role of BAT and various factors that can induce the formation and activity of BAT are being explored. The thermogenic effect of BAT is mediated by uncoupling protein 1, also known as thermogenin. Several factors such as exposure to cold, stimulation by sympathetic nervous system, thyroid hormones and other endocrine factors induce brown adipogenesis and its activity. An inverse relationship exists between BAT and body weight. The increasing prevalence of obesity globally and its association with various complications makes it essential to search for therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat obesity. In this regard, BAT with its ability to dissipate energy in the form of heat appears to be a potential therapeutic target for the management of obesity.http://www.jcsr.co.in/article.asp?issn=2277-5706;year=2019;volume=8;issue=1;spage=24;epage=28;aulast=Kiranmayiadipocytesbrown adipose tissuethermogenesisuncoupling protein 1
spellingShingle V S Kiranmayi
K M Bhargav
Brown adipose tissue in adult humans: A mini review
Journal of Clinical and Scientific Research
adipocytes
brown adipose tissue
thermogenesis
uncoupling protein 1
title Brown adipose tissue in adult humans: A mini review
title_full Brown adipose tissue in adult humans: A mini review
title_fullStr Brown adipose tissue in adult humans: A mini review
title_full_unstemmed Brown adipose tissue in adult humans: A mini review
title_short Brown adipose tissue in adult humans: A mini review
title_sort brown adipose tissue in adult humans a mini review
topic adipocytes
brown adipose tissue
thermogenesis
uncoupling protein 1
url http://www.jcsr.co.in/article.asp?issn=2277-5706;year=2019;volume=8;issue=1;spage=24;epage=28;aulast=Kiranmayi
work_keys_str_mv AT vskiranmayi brownadiposetissueinadulthumansaminireview
AT kmbhargav brownadiposetissueinadulthumansaminireview