Several independent studies have shown the presence of functional brown adipose tissue in adult humans. Its innate ability to expend energy via heat production is a feature that could be used to develop new regimens to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This Review outlines the current knowledge on the transcriptional regulation and development of brown adipose tissue and addresses possible targets that may be useful for the expansion and/or activation of brown adipose tissue by pharmacological means.
- Martin E. Lidell
- Sven Enerbäck