About this Research Topic
The prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled since the 1970s making it a 21st-century epidemic. Furthermore, obesity elevates the risk of various diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancers. Adipocytes are primarily of three types: white, beige, and brown. White adipocytes primarily store excess lipids as triacylglycerols within lipid droplets. Beige and brown adipocytes functions in dissipating stored lipids as heat via thermogenesis under certain conditions like cold exposure. Hence, beige and brown adipocytes lie at the forefront of combating obesity, and understanding the regulatory mechanisms behind their thermogenesis is of primary importance.
Brown and beige adipocytes are known to mediate thermogenesis via the mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) that uncouples the electron transport chain producing heat instead of ATP. Under the influence of an external stimulus like cold exposure, the sympathetic nervous system is activated which results in the release of norepinephrine, which acts via β3 adrenergic receptors to activate the cAMP-PKA pathway leading to increased availability of thermogenic UCP1+ mitochondria. Recent advances have indicated the presence of UCP1 independent thermogenesis mechanisms in these adipocytes. This research topic aims to unravel novel molecular mechanisms that drive the increased thermogenesis in brown and beige adipocytes.
This research topic intends to provide its readers with a better understanding of brown and beige adipocyte-mediated thermogenesis. We welcome original research, review, mini-review, short communications, and perspectives articles that are related, but not limited to the following subtopics:
• Mechanisms concerning the differentiation of white, brown, and beige adipocytes
• Fatty acid uptake and lipolysis in brown and beige adipocytes
• Mitochondrial function in brown and beige adipocytes
• Factors affecting improved thermogenesis in brown and beige adipocytes
• Potential therapeutic strategies aiming to improve thermogenesis in these adipocytes
Brown and beige adipocytes are known to mediate thermogenesis via the mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) that uncouples the electron transport chain producing heat instead of ATP. Under the influence of an external stimulus like cold exposure, the sympathetic nervous system is activated which results in the release of norepinephrine, which acts via β3 adrenergic receptors to activate the cAMP-PKA pathway leading to increased availability of thermogenic UCP1+ mitochondria. Recent advances have indicated the presence of UCP1 independent thermogenesis mechanisms in these adipocytes. This research topic aims to unravel novel molecular mechanisms that drive the increased thermogenesis in brown and beige adipocytes.
This research topic intends to provide its readers with a better understanding of brown and beige adipocyte-mediated thermogenesis. We welcome original research, review, mini-review, short communications, and perspectives articles that are related, but not limited to the following subtopics:
• Mechanisms concerning the differentiation of white, brown, and beige adipocytes
• Fatty acid uptake and lipolysis in brown and beige adipocytes
• Mitochondrial function in brown and beige adipocytes
• Factors affecting improved thermogenesis in brown and beige adipocytes
• Potential therapeutic strategies aiming to improve thermogenesis in these adipocytes
Keywords: obesity, brown adipocytes, beige adipocytes, UCP1, thermogenesis, beiging, browning
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