Human Beige Adipocytes: Epiphenomenon or Drivers of Metabolic Improvements?

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2016 May;27(5):244-246. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2016.03.008. Epub 2016 Mar 31.

Abstract

There is a lack of direct evidence that human brown or beige adipocytes improve whole-body energy homeostasis. In a recent study, Min et al. implanted proliferated human adipocyte progenitors from a 3D culture system in mice. Implants responded to adipogenic stimuli and had a beige-like phenotype upon induction that significantly improved systemic metabolic parameters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes, Beige / cytology*
  • Adipocytes, Beige / metabolism*
  • Adipocytes, Brown / cytology
  • Adipocytes, Brown / metabolism
  • Adipogenesis / genetics
  • Adipogenesis / physiology
  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Thermogenesis / genetics
  • Thermogenesis / physiology