Thermogenic adipose tissue in energy regulation and metabolic health

The ability to generate thermogenic fat could be a targeted therapy to thwart obesity and improve metabolic health. Brown and beige adipocytes are two types of thermogenic fat cells that regulate energy balance. Both adipocytes share common morphological, biochemical, and thermogenic properties. Yet, recent evidence suggests unique features exist between brown and beige adipocytes, such as their cellular origin and thermogenic regulatory processes. Beige adipocytes also appear highly plastic, responding to environmental stimuli and interconverting between beige and white adipocyte states. Additionally, beige adipocytes appear to be metabolically heterogenic and have substrate specificity. Nevertheless, obese and aged individuals cannot develop beige adipocytes in response to thermogenic fat-inducers, creating a key clinical hurdle to their therapeutic promise. Thus, elucidating the underlying developmental, molecular, and functional mechanisms that govern thermogenic fat cells will improve our understanding of systemic energy regulation and strive for new targeted therapies to generate thermogenic fat. This review will examine the recent advances in thermogenic fat biogenesis, molecular regulation, and the potential mechanisms for their failure.

Automated summary

The ability to generate thermogenic fat cells is a potential targeted therapy for obesity and metabolic health improvement. Brown and beige adipocytes, which regulate energy balance, share certain properties but also display unique features such as origin and regulatory processes. Beige adipocytes are highly plastic, responding to environmental stimuli and converting between different states. However, obese and aged individuals face hurdles in developing beige adipocytes, hindering therapeutic potential. Understanding the mechanisms behind thermogenic fat cells will enhance understanding of energy regulation and enable new targeted therapies. This review discusses recent advances and potential mechanisms for failure in thermogenic fat cell regulation.