Intricate Transcriptional Networks of Classical Brown and Beige Fat Cells

Abstract

Brown adipocytes are a specialized cell type that is critical for adaptive thermogenesis, energy homeostasis, and metabolism. In response to cold, both classical brown fat and the newly identified "beige" or "brite" cells are activated by β-adrenergic signaling and catabolize stored lipids and carbohydrates to produce heat via UCP1. Once thought to be non-existent in adults, recent studies have discovered active classical brown and beige fat cells in humans, thus reinvigorating interest in brown and beige adipocytes. This review will focus on the newly discovered transcription factors and microRNAs that specify and orchestrate the classical brown and beige fat cell development.

Keywords: beige; brite; classical brown fat; lincRNAs; miRNAs; transcription factors; transcriptional regulation.

Figure 1

A regulatory network of transcription factors and miRNAs in classical brown and white adipogenesis. Early transcription factors are shown above the dotted line and the box indicates the core transcription factors critical for brown and white adipogenesis.

Figure 2

Intricate networks of transcription factors and miRNAs in beige and white fat differentiation from progenitors or through transdifferentiation.