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Neural control of white, beige and brown adipocytes

International Journal of Obesity Supplements volume 5, pages S35–S39 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Reports of brown-like adipocytes in traditionally white adipose tissue (WAT) depots occurred ~30 years ago, but interest in white adipocyte ‘browning’ only has gained attention more recently. We integrate some of what is known about the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) innervation of WAT and brown adipose tissue (BAT) with the few studies focusing on the sympathetic innervation of the so-called ‘brite’ or ‘beige’ adipocytes that appear when WAT sympathetic drive increases (for example, cold exposure and food deprivation). Only one brain site, the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH), selectively browns some (inguinal WAT (IWAT) and dorsomedial subcutaneous WAT), but not all WAT depots and only when DMH neuropeptide Y gene expression is knocked down, a browning effect is mediated by WAT SNS innervation. Other studies show that WAT sympathetic fiber density is correlated with the number of brown-like adipocytes (multilocular lipid droplets, uncoupling protein-1 immunoreactivity) at both warm and cold ambient temperatures. WAT and BAT have sensory innervation, the latter important for acute BAT cold-induced temperature increases, therefore suggesting the possible importance of sensory neural feedback from brite/beige cells for heat production. Only one report shows browned WAT capable of producing heat in vivo. Collectively, increases in WAT sympathetic drive and the phenotype of these stimulated adipocytes seems critical for the production of new and/or transdifferentiation of white to brite/beige adipocytes. Selective harnessing of WAT SNS drive to produce browning or selective browning independent of the SNS to counter increases in adiposity by increasing expenditure appears to be extremely challenging.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Grant R37 DK35254 to TJB.

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This article is published as part of a supplement sponsored by the Université Laval’s Research Chair in Obesity, in an effort to inform the public on the causes, consequences, treatments and prevention of obesity.

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  1. Department of Biology, Obesity Reversal Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    T J Bartness & V Ryu

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Correspondence to T J Bartness.

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Bartness, T., Ryu, V. Neural control of white, beige and brown adipocytes. Int J Obes Supp 5 (Suppl 1), S35–S39 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijosup.2015.9

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