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Thyroid hormones: igniting brown fat via the brain

Thyroid hormones increase the energy metabolism of the body in a process called 'thyroid thermogenesis'. Its molecular mechanism, however, has been elusive. Recent findings in rats suggest that it is localized to brown adipose tissue—our one truly thermogenic organ—and is mediated via the brain (pages 1001–1008).

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Figure 1: The views of thyroid thermogenesis.

Katie Vicari

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Correspondence to Barbara Cannon.

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Cannon, B., Nedergaard, J. Thyroid hormones: igniting brown fat via the brain. Nat Med 16, 965–967 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0910-965

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