Unlike classic white adipose tissue, brown adipocytes burn lipids and glucose to produce heat, using the specialized Uncoupling Protein 1 (UCP1). Adult humans have small quantities of brown fat in the deep layers of the neck, and beige fat in the shallower layers in the neck is most individuals. However, people have vastly greater quantities of white fat than brown. Studies show this white fat can be made more brown-like, or ‘beiged’ in mice.
Strategies to increase quantity and activation of beige fat in humans may be helpful for the treatment of metabolic syndrome including obesity and diabetes.
This symposium will present data showing that human fat can be browned, causing a significant increase in UCP content, and energy expenditure of fat explants.