Bi-directional interconversion of brite and white adipocytes

摘要: Brown adipose tissue helps to maintain body temperature in hibernators, rodents and neonatal mammals by converting lipids glucose into heat, thereby increasing energy expenditure. In addition classical brown adipocytes, adult rodents-like humans-harbour brown-like adipocytes the predominantly white tissue. The formation of these brite (brown-in-white) is a physiological response chronic cold their cellular origin under debate. We show here that cold-induced mice reversed within 5 weeks warm adaptation, but formed stimulation are not eliminated. Genetic tracing transcriptional characterization isolated demonstrates they converted cells with morphology gene expression pattern adipocytes. Moreover, white-typical can convert on additional stimulation. Shifting balance this interconversion from towards phenotype might provide new means counteracting obesity