title: Formation and activation of thermogenic fat.
abstract: Thermogenic fat cells that convert chemical energy into heat are present in both mice and humans. Recent years have witnessed great advances in our understanding of the regulation of these adipocytes and an increased appreciation of the potential these cells have to counteract obesity. We summarize recent efforts to understand the formation of these fat cells and critically review genetic models and other experimental tools currently available to further investigate the development and activation of both classical brown and inducible beige fat cells. We also discuss recent discoveries about the epigenetic regulation of these adipocytes, and finally present emerging evidence revealing the metabolic impacts of thermogenic fat in humans.
authors: Life Sciences Institute, Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: wujunz@umich.edu.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Wu
authors: Life Sciences Institute, Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors: Heejin
authors: H
authors: Jun
authors: Life Sciences Institute, Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors: Joseph R
authors: JR
authors: McDermott
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D050177:Overweight / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D022722:Thermogenesis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: adaptive thermogenesis; beige fat; brown fat; obesity