Adrenergic regulation of cellular plasticity in brown, beige/brite and white adipose tissues

ABSTRACT

The discovery of brown adipose tissue in adult humans along with the recognition of adipocyte heterogeneity and plasticity of white fat depots has renewed the interest in targeting adipose tissue for therapeutic benefit. Adrenergic activation is a well-established means of recruiting catabolic adipocyte phenotypes in brown and white adipose tissues. In this article, we review mechanisms of brown adipocyte recruitment by the sympathetic nervous system and by direct β-adrenergic receptor activation. We highlight the distinct modes of brown adipocyte recruitment in brown, beige/brite, and white adipose tissues, UCP1-independent thermogenesis, and potential non-thermogenic, metabolically beneficial effects of brown adipocytes.

KEYWORDS:

• energy metabolism
• gonadal adipose tissue
• inguinal adipose tissue
• innervation
• multilocular
• PDGFR α
• PGC1 α
• sympathetic nervous system
• thermogenesis
• UCP1

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Funding

This study was supported by NIH grants DK62292, DK76629, DK091741, and NS21061634; and by US. Department of Veteran Affairs grant 5IO-BX0001335 (J.G.G.) and AHA 15POST21860000 (V.D.R).