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Review
. 2022 Mar;11(1):1-9.
doi: 10.1007/s13679-021-00465-7. Epub 2022 Jan 7.

Batokines: Mediators of Inter-Tissue Communication (a Mini-Review)

Felix T Yang  1   2 , Kristin I Stanford  3   4   5
Affiliations
Review

Batokines: Mediators of Inter-Tissue Communication (a Mini-Review)

Felix T Yang et al. Curr Obes Rep. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review highlights aspects of brown adipose tissue (BAT) communication with other organ systems and how BAT-to-tissue cross-talk could help elucidate future obesity treatments.

Recent findings: Until recently, research on BAT has focused mainly on its thermogenic activity. New research has identified an endocrine/paracrine function of BAT and determined that many BAT-derived molecules, termed "batokines," affect the physiology of a variety of organ systems and cell types. Batokines encompass a variety of signaling molecules including peptides, metabolites, lipids, or microRNAs. Recent studies have noted significant effects of batokines on physiology as it relates whole-body metabolism and cardiac function. This review will discuss batokines and other BAT processes that affect the liver, cardiovascular system, skeletal muscle, immune cells, and brown and white adipose tissue. Brown adipose tissue has a crucial secretory function that plays a key role in systemic physiology.

Keywords: Batokines; Brown adipose tissue; Endocrine; Inter-tissue communication; Metabolism; Obesity; Paracrine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Felix T. Yang and Kristin I. Stanford declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Brown adipose tissue inter-tissue and inter-cellular communication. Mechanisms of brown adipose tissue (BAT) bi-directional tissue and cellular communication. Batokines (secreted factors from BAT) target organs such as the white adipose tissue, liver, skeletal muscle, and heart. Additionally, many paracrine batokines target immune cells with the most well-studied effects on macrophages. *The reduction in exercise capacity is due to secretion of myostatin from BAT at thermoneutral conditions. **No study has specifically shown an effect of 12-HEPE on resident-BAT immune cells; the effects of BAT-derived lipokines on local immune cells is still unknown. Created with BioRender.com
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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