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Review
. 2010 Aug;22(4):478-84.
doi: 10.1097/MOP.0b013e32833a8d6e.

The role and importance of brown adipose tissue in energy homeostasis

Aaron M Cypess  1 , C Ronald Kahn
Affiliations
Review

The role and importance of brown adipose tissue in energy homeostasis

Aaron M Cypess et al. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2010 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Children and adults have two major types of adipocytes, which represent the predominant cells in white adipose tissue, which is involved in energy storage, and brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is responsible for thermogenesis and energy expenditure. This review discusses BAT physiology and evaluates the recent discoveries regarding its development, identification, and function.

Recent findings: Last year, multiple independent research teams using combined PET and computed tomography imaging, immunohistochemistry, and gene and protein expression have proven conclusively that adult humans have functional BAT. In parallel, basic studies defined BAT origins, its transcriptional regulation, and the role of hormones in BAT growth and activation. These methods have begun to be applied to children to understand pediatric BAT anatomy and physiology.

Summary: Adult humans have functional BAT, which plays a role in energy balance. BAT is more prevalent in children, suggesting an even greater physiological role than that seen in adults. Future studies will identify safe ways to quantify BAT mass and activity and which interventions might be used to increase BAT mass, thermogenesis, or both to treat obesity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The Brown Adipocyte Differentiation and Activation Pathway
The development of a fully functional brown adipocyte can be divided into three phases: the multipotent mesenchymal stem cell; the brown preadipocytes; and the mature brown adipocytes. Shown for each phase are key hormonal regulators (left) and transcriptional regulators (italics, center).
Figure 2
Figure 2. The typical pattern of pediatric BAT detectable via 18F-FDG PET/CT
PET/CT of a 16-year-old girl with Hodgkin’s disease after two courses of chemotherapy. The maximal intensity projection 18F-FDG PET image (left) shows symmetrical FDG uptake in both sides of the neck and supraclavicular regions typical of BAT activity. Transaxial PET, CT, and fused PET/CT images (right) show examples of supraclavicular BAT (white arrows) and the absence of activity within the interscapular adipose tissue (white arrowheads).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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