Brown Adipose Tissue Activity and Hormonal Modulation
Summary
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a specialised fat depot whose primary role is to dissipate chemical energy as heat through non-shivering thermogenesis. In contrast to white adipose tissue (WAT), which stores excess energy, BAT is enriched with mitochondria containing uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), enabling rapid proton leak and heat generation. Activation of BAT is orchestrated by sympathetic β-adrenergic signalling, thyroid hormones and a spectrum of endocrine factors, making it pivotal in systemic energy balance. Beyond cold adaptation, BAT improves glucose and lipid homeostasis, offering therapeutic promise for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Hormonal modulation extends to sex steroids, glucocorticoids, insulin and growth factors, each capable of enhancing or suppressing thermogenic capacity and adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, recruitable “beige” adipocytes within WAT depots can undergo “browning” under hormonal or environmental cues, expanding the body’s thermogenic arsenal. Advances in imaging and molecular profiling have revealed adipose heterogeneity across age, sex and physiological states, underscoring the dynamic interplay between endocrine signals and thermogenic function. Deciphering these mechanisms paves the way for targeted strategies to harness adipose thermogenesis in the fight against metabolic disease.
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Brown Adipose Tissue Activity and Hormonal Modulation publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in brown adipose tissue activity and hormonal modulation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT): A specialised form of fat rich in mitochondria that generates heat through non-shivering thermogenesis.
Thermogenesis: The production of heat by metabolic processes, particularly within adipose tissue.
Uncoupling Protein 1 (UCP1): A mitochondrial membrane protein that dissipates the proton gradient to produce heat instead of ATP.
Browning: The process by which white adipocytes acquire brown-like thermogenic features, including UCP1 expression and increased mitochondrial content.
References
- D-Chiro-Inositol and Myo-Inositol Induce WAT/BAT Trans-Differentiation in Two Different Human Adipocyte Models (SGBS and LiSa-2). International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Sex differences in thermoregulation in mammals: Implications for energy homeostasis. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2023).
- Weighing in on the role of brown adipose tissue for treatment of obesity. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences (2024).
- Sex Differences in Brown Adipose Tissue Function: Sex Hormones, Glucocorticoids, and Their Crosstalk. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2021).
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