Fig. 3: SERT inhibition suppresses BAT thermogenesis in vivo in humans.
From: The serotonin transporter sustains human brown adipose tissue thermogenesis
a, Retrospective analysis of 18F-FDG-PET–CT scans performed at room temperature in patients treated with SSRIs (n = 153), those prescribed other classes of antidepressants (n = 164) and matched controls (n = 270). b, Left: fused PET–MRI (18F-FDG uptake by supraclavicular BAT (white arrow)). Right: three-dimensional PET–MRI with quantification of 18F-FDG uptake by cervical/supraclavicular/axillary (green) and paraspinal (yellow) BAT. c, Coronal fused PET–MRI (upper) and thermal images (lower) of a representative participant on placebo (left) and sertraline (right) phases. In the thermal images, regions of interest (ovals) are drawn around the left and right supraclavicular (to highlight areas of BAT) and sternal (control) areas. d–g, Quantification of 18F-FDG uptake by BAT (d), BAT volume (e), total 18F-FDG uptake by BAT (f) and BAT fat fraction (g) on placebo (circles) and sertraline (squares) phases in male (black) and female (red) participants (n = 15 (d–f) or n = 12 (g) with detectable 18F-FDG uptake on both phases). Lines depict median (d–f) and mean (g) values. h, Supraclavicular and sternal skin temperatures during warm exposure (pink columns) and cold exposure (blue columns) (n = 15 biologically independent participants). i, Whole-body EE measured by indirect calorimetry (n = 15 biologically independent participants). EE was higher in males (P < 0.001). Data are median (d–f) or mean ± s.e.m. (g–i). Data were analysed by chi-squared test (a), Wilcoxon signed-rank test (d–f), paired t-test (g) or two-way repeated measures ANOVA (h,i). Significant P values are detailed in the respective panels.
