Activation and recruitment of brown adipose tissue as anti-obesity regimens in humans

Figures & data

Figure 1. Contribution of lean body mass and BAT activity to EE in humans. Whole-body EE of 51 healthy males was measured at thermoneutral room temperature (27°C, A and D) and after acute cold exposure (19°C for 2 hours, B and E). CIT was calculated from the difference between EE at 19°C and 27°C (C and F). Relations of EE to lean body mass (A–C) and BAT activity assessed by FDG-PET/CT after the acute cold exposure (D–F). (G) Cold-induced FDG uptake into brain, heart, skeletal muscle, and BAT was assessed from standardized uptake value (SUV), defined as the radioactivity per milliliter within the region of interest divided by the injected dose in megabecquerels per gram of body weight. Adapted from Yoneshiro et al. (33) and Nishio et al. (10).

Figure 2. Age-related decrease in BAT and accumulation of body fat. The prevalence and activity of BAT was assessed from FDG uptake through PET/CT combined with acute cold exposure. (A) Inverse correlation between BAT activity and visceral fat area. (B) Effects of age on BAT prevalence and visceral fat area. (C) Age-related accumulation of visceral fat in subjects with detectable activities of BAT (High BAT) and those without it (Low BAT). (D) The thermogenic activity of BAT is high during neonatal periods, but decreases with age in some individuals who get obese. In contrast, other individuals who keep BAT during their adulthood do not get obese, suggesting that BAT is protective against age-related development of obesity, and that its reactivation/recruitment is an effective regimen for combating obesity. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of UCP1 and β3AR genes accelerate age-related decline of BAT. Adapted from Saito et al. (2) and Yoneshiro et al. (47).

Figure 3. Recruitment of human BAT after chronic cold exposure. Repeated cold exposure for 6 weeks recruited BAT, increased whole-body EE, and decreased body fatness. Adapted from Yoneshiro et al. (33).

Figure 4. Sympathetic and endocrine control of brown and beige/brite adipocytes.

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