title: Immune Modulation of Brown(ing) Adipose Tissue in Obesity.
abstract: Obesity is associated with a variety of medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and is therefore responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates. Increasing energy expenditure by brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a current novel strategy to reduce the excessive energy stores in obesity. Brown adipocytes burn energy to generate heat and are mainly activated upon cold exposure. As prolonged cold exposure is not a realistic therapy, researchers worldwide are searching for novel ways to activate BAT and/or induce beiging of white adipose tissue. Recently, the contribution of immune cells in the regulation of brown adipocyte activity and beiging of white adipose tissue has gained increased attention, with a prominent role for eosinophils and alternatively activated macrophages. This review discusses the rediscovery of BAT, presents an overview of modes of activation and differentiation of beige and brown adipocytes, and describes the recently discovered immunological pathways that are key in mediating brown/beige adipocyte development and function. Interventions in immunological pathways harbor the potential to provide novel strategies to increase beige and brown adipose tissue activity as a therapeutic target for obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Subdivision of Experimental Vascular Biology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, 1105AZ The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, and.|Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; and.
authors.forename: Andrea D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, and.|Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; and.
authors.forename: Patrick C N
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Rensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Subdivision of Experimental Vascular Biology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, 1105AZ The Netherlands.|Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Menno P J
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: de Winther
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Subdivision of Experimental Vascular Biology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, 1105AZ The Netherlands.|Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lutgens
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy