Functional brown adipose tissue in healthy adults.
Using positron-emission tomography (PET), we found that cold-induced glucose uptake was increased by a factor of 15 in paracervical and supraclavicular adipose tissue in five healthy subjects. We obtained biopsy specimens of this tissue from the first three consecutive subjects and documented messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of the brown-adipocyte marker, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Together with morphologic assessment, which showed numerous multilocular, intracellular lipid droplets, and with the results of biochemical analysis, these findings document the presence of substantial amounts of metabolically active brown adipose tissue in healthy adult humans.
Turku PET Center, University of Turku, Finland.
Kirsi A
KA
Virtanen
Martin E
ME
Lidell
Janne
J
Orava
Mikael
M
Heglind
Rickard
R
Westergren
Tarja
T
Niemi
Markku
M
Taittonen
Jukka
J
Laine
Nina-Johanna
NJ
Savisto
Sven
S
Enerbäck
Pirjo
P
Nuutila
D052437:Adipocytes, Brown / Q000378:metabolism; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D015854:Up-Regulation
D005819:Genetic Markers; D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C000604371:UCP1 protein, human; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18