A new era for brown adipose tissue: New insights into brown adipocyte function and differentiation^*

Abstract

Until quite recently, brown adipose tissue was considered of metabolic significance only in small mammals and human newborns, since it was thought to disappear rapidly after birth in humans. However, nowadays this tissue is known to play a role in the regulation of energy balance not only in rodents, but also in humans. In this review we highlight new features regarding brown adipose tissue origin and function and revise old paradigms about brown adipocyte differentiation.

Keywords::

• Brown adipose tissue
• differentiation
• obesity
• type 2 diabetes
• transcription factors

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grants BFU2008-04043 from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion. Dr Fernández Veledo is supported by a fellowship from the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS) CP10/00438. CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabolicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM CB07-08-0007) is an ISCIII Project.

Declaration of interest

The authors have nothing to disclose.