Towards a Better Understanding of Beige Adipocyte Plasticity.

Esther Paulo,Biao Wang

doi:10.3390/cells8121552

Abstract

Beige adipocytes are defined as Ucp1+, multilocular adipocytes within white adipose tissue (WAT) that are capable of thermogenesis, the process of heat generation. In both mouse models and humans, the increase of beige adipocyte population, also called WAT browning, is associated with certain metabolic benefits, such as reduced obesity and increased insulin sensitivity. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding WAT browning, with a special focus on the beige adipocyte plasticity, collectively referring to a bidirectional transition between thermogenic active and latent states in response to environmental changes. We further exploit the utility of a unique beige adipocyte ablation system to interrogate anti-obesity effect of beige adipocytes in vivo.

Highlights

Energy balance requires equivalent energy intake and energy expenditure
We showed that blocking cAMP production white beige adipocytes, but
Our novel uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1)+ -lineage adipocyte ablation system can be applied here to determine the contribution of these Ucp1+ -lineage adipocytes in the white adipose tissue (WAT) browning process that is induced by these agents

Summary

Introduction

Energy balance requires equivalent energy intake and energy expenditure. When energy intake exceeds energy expenditure, animals store excess energy as fat in adipose. The immune cell–beige adipocyte communications, involving macrophages (alternative activated macrophages and sympathetic neuron-associated macrophages), eosinophils, type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), natural killer T cells (iNKTs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), and acetylcholine-producing CD45+ cells, may either positively or negatively regulate beige adipocyte formation, which have been reviewed elsewhere (Figure 1) [39]. These immune cells, along with gut microbiota remodeling, can affect browning under changing nutrient status (such as intermediate fasting and dietary restriction [40,41,42]). Multilocular Ucp1+ beige adipocytes can be found in other fat depots, such as perivascular adipose tissue and thigh adipose tissue [65]

Beige Adipocyte Plasticity

HDAC4 Plasticity

Conclusions and Future Perspectives