title: The role of innate immunity in the regulation of brown and beige adipogenesis.
abstract: The adipose tissue (AT) is multifunctional, acting as an endocrine tissue and participating in the regulation of the organism's homeostasis. Metabolic, endocrine and inflammatory mechanisms are tightly intertwined within the AT, regulating its function. Disruption of the equilibrium among these mechanisms leads to pathologies, the most common being obesity-related insulin resistance. Two types of AT exist, the white and the brown AT. Traditionally the white AT (WAT) was thought to store energy in the form of lipids, while the brown AT (BAT) was known to mediate heat generation. Recently, the 'brite' or 'beige' AT was identified, which is localized predominantly in subcutaneous WAT, but shares functional features with the BAT and is capable of heat production. The major stimulus triggering beige and brown adipogenesis is cold exposure and catecholamine signalling. However, several further signals and mechanisms exist, which can orchestrate and fine-tune beige and brown AT function. Immune cells and inflammation have emerged as regulators of beige and brown AT function. The present review will focus on the recently identified crosstalk between innate immunity and the regulation of beige and brown adipogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathobiochemistry, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany. Ismini.Alexaki@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
authors.forename: Vasileia Ismini
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3935-8985
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Alexaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathobiochemistry, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.|Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden of the Helmholtz Center Munich at University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.|German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Triantafyllos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chavakis
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000276:immunology*; D000069796:Adipose Tissue, Beige / Q000276:immunology*; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: Beige adipose tissue; Brown adipose tissue; Inflammation; Innate immunity; Type 2 immunity