Maria Chondronikola1,2. 1. Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA. 2. Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the thermogenic adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT) are considered emerging targets against obesity-related metabolic perturbations given their high capacity for thermogenesis and glucose and lipid disposal. This manuscript summarizes and critically evaluates the recent advances on the role of BAT and thermogenic adipocytes in glucose homeostasis in humans. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies support that BAT has high capacity for glucose disposal not only during cold but during rewarming and thermoneutrality as well. Moreover, BAT is now considered a metabolic sink for the disposal of branched-chain amino acids improving whole-body glucose metabolism in rodents and, potentially, in humans. β3 adrenergic agonism and glucagon-like peptide 1 increase BAT metabolic activity for glucose and/or induce the browning of WAT. Finally, recent findings support the association of glucose disposal in BAT with subclinical atherosclerosis and the reproducibility of two advanced medical imaging methods for the assessment of BAT using a glucose radiotracer. SUMMARY: Recent studies provide new insights on the role of human BAT and thermogenic adipocytes in glucose metabolism. However, further research is needed to unequivocally establish the clinical significance of BAT and the thermogenic adipocytes in glucose homeostasis in humans.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the thermogenic adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT) are considered emerging targets against obesity-related metabolic perturbations given their high capacity for thermogenesis and glucose and lipid disposal. This manuscript summarizes and critically evaluates the recent advances on the role of BAT and thermogenic adipocytes in glucose homeostasis in humans. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies support that BAT has high capacity for glucose disposal not only during cold but during rewarming and thermoneutrality as well. Moreover, BAT is now considered a metabolic sink for the disposal of branched-chain amino acids improving whole-body glucose metabolism in rodents and, potentially, in humans. β3 adrenergic agonism and glucagon-like peptide 1 increase BAT metabolic activity for glucose and/or induce the browning of WAT. Finally, recent findings support the association of glucose disposal in BAT with subclinical atherosclerosis and the reproducibility of two advanced medical imaging methods for the assessment of BAT using a glucose radiotracer. SUMMARY: Recent studies provide new insights on the role of human BAT and thermogenic adipocytes in glucose metabolism. However, further research is needed to unequivocally establish the clinical significance of BAT and the thermogenic adipocytes in glucose homeostasis in humans.
Authors: S Porro; V A Genchi; A Cignarelli; A Natalicchio; L Laviola; F Giorgino; S Perrini Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2020-11-03 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: Yujiao Zu; Ling Zhao; Lei Hao; Yehia Mechref; Masoud Zabet-Moghaddam; Peter A Keyel; Mehrnaz Abbasi; Dayong Wu; John A Dawson; Ruiwen Zhang; Shufang Nie; Naima Moustaid-Moussa; Mikhail G Kolonin; Alexes C Daquinag; Luis Brandi; Irfan Warraich; Susan K San Francisco; Xiaocun Sun; Zhaoyang Fan; Shu Wang Journal: J Control Release Date: 2021-03-23 Impact factor: 11.467