Brown adipose tissue thermogenesis - PubMed
7 hours ago
- #Thermogenesis
- #Brown adipose tissue
- #Metabolic health
- Human brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a metabolically dynamic organ influencing thermoregulation, substrate utilization, and cardiometabolic health.
- BAT features heterogeneous thermogenic adipocytes with multilocular lipid droplets, rich innervation, vascularization, and compartmentalized mitochondria.
- BAT expresses uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and can recruit broader oxidative and futile-cycle pathways.
- BAT is distributed across several depots with varying recruitment potential among individuals.
- Cold exposure is the most potent BAT activator, but nutritional and pharmacological stimuli also modulate its activity.
- Advanced imaging techniques like [15O]O2 and [11C]acetate PET are used to quantify BAT thermogenesis.
- BAT contributes modestly to lipid and glucose clearance and whole-body energy expenditure.
- Spontaneous uptake of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose is associated with lower adiposity and reduced cardiometabolic risk.
- Major uncertainties include BAT's true thermogenic capacity, beige adipocytes' functional relevance, and UCP1-dependent vs. UCP1-independent pathways.