title: Brown, beige, and white: the new color code of fat and its pharmacological implications.
abstract: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) was previously regarded as a special type of fat relevant only for defending hibernating animals and newborns against a cold environment. Recently, BAT has received considerable attention following its (re)discovery in humans. Using glucose tracers, multiple laboratories independently found metabolically active BAT in adults. The enormous metabolic powers of BAT in animal models could make it an attractive target for antiobesity therapies in humans. Here, we review the present knowledge on the role of BAT in energy homeostasis and metabolism, focusing on signaling pathways and potential targets for novel therapeutics. We also shine light on ongoing debates, including those about the true color of brown fat in adults, as well as on the requirements for translation of basic research on BAT into clinical medicine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Biomedical Center, University of Bonn, 53105 Bonn, Germany; email: alexander.pfeifer@uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D052437:Adipocytes, Brown / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D052438:Adipocytes, White / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D035683:MicroRNAs; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: antiobesity therapies; brown adipose tissue; diagnostics; microRNAs; obesity; signaling pathways