Hormonal and nutritional regulation of adipose tissue mitochondrial development and function in the newborn

Growth, development, and maturation of adipose tissue in the fetus can determine both survival at birth as well as having longer term consequences for adult disease. The mitochondrial proteins uncoupling protein (UCP) 1, voltage dependent anion channel (VDAC), and cytochrome c have an important role in cellular energy regulation. Activity of these proteins is particularly important during the transition from fetal to neonatal life when cellular energy requirements are at near maximal rates. The regulation of these proteins by endocrine factors is highly complex and may be dependent on both fetal number and maternal nutrition. The cytokine hormones leptin and prolactin have well established functions in energy regulation and lactation respectively. However, recent data proposes a role in regulation of mitochondrial proteins, particularly UCP1, and thermogenesis. Cortisol is an adrenal hormone with a critical role in fetal tissue maturation, especially the lung. It has now been shown to influence the abundance of UCP1 in the fetus, a role that may in part be regulated by the metabolically active thyroid hormone triiodothyronine. A greater understanding of the regulation of mitochondrial proteins within adipose tissue by endocrine and nutritional factors is likely to be important in preventing neonatal morbidity and mortality. it could also add substantially to our understanding of pathological conditions such as obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes.