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Editorial
. 2009 Apr 9;360(15):1553-6.
doi: 10.1056/NEJMe0900466.

Brown adipose tissue--when it pays to be inefficient

Editorial

Brown adipose tissue--when it pays to be inefficient

Francesco S Celi. N Engl J Med. .
No abstract available

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The Activation of Brown Adipose Tissue
Stimulation of β3-adrenergic receptors leads to the dramatic increase in the intracellular concentration of triiodothyronine (T3) by means of the type 2 5′ deiodinase (D2); T3 in turn stimulates the transcription of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which causes the leakage of protons from the inner membrane of the mitochondria, hence dissipating energy in the form of heat. The abbreviation cAMP denotes cyclic adenosine monophosphate, CRE cAMP response element, T4 thyroxine, and TRE thyroid hormone response element.

Comment on

  • Cold-activated brown adipose tissue in healthy men.
    van Marken Lichtenbelt WD, Vanhommerig JW, Smulders NM, Drossaerts JM, Kemerink GJ, Bouvy ND, Schrauwen P, Teule GJ. van Marken Lichtenbelt WD, et al. N Engl J Med. 2009 Apr 9;360(15):1500-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0808718. N Engl J Med. 2009. PMID: 19357405 Clinical Trial.
  • Identification and importance of brown adipose tissue in adult humans.
    Cypess AM, Lehman S, Williams G, Tal I, Rodman D, Goldfine AB, Kuo FC, Palmer EL, Tseng YH, Doria A, Kolodny GM, Kahn CR. Cypess AM, et al. N Engl J Med. 2009 Apr 9;360(15):1509-17. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0810780. N Engl J Med. 2009. PMID: 19357406 Free PMC article.
  • Functional brown adipose tissue in healthy adults.
    Virtanen KA, Lidell ME, Orava J, Heglind M, Westergren R, Niemi T, Taittonen M, Laine J, Savisto NJ, Enerbäck S, Nuutila P. Virtanen KA, et al. N Engl J Med. 2009 Apr 9;360(15):1518-25. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0808949. N Engl J Med. 2009. PMID: 19357407 Clinical Trial.

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