Brain-to-BAT - and Back?: Crosstalk between the Central Nervous System and Thermogenic Adipose Tissue in Development and Therapy of Obesity.
Andreas TillCharlotte FriesWiebke K FenskePublished in: Brain sciences (2022)
The body of mammals harbors two distinct types of adipose tissue: while cells within the white adipose tissue (WAT) store surplus energy as lipids, brown adipose tissue (BAT) is nowadays recognized as the main tissue for transforming chemical energy into heat. This process, referred to as 'non-shivering thermogenesis', is facilitated by the uncoupling of the electron transport across mitochondrial membranes from ATP production. BAT-dependent thermogenesis acts as a safeguarding mechanism under reduced ambient temperature but also plays a critical role in metabolic and energy homeostasis in health and disease. In this review, we summarize the evolutionary structure, function and regulation of the BAT organ under neuronal and hormonal control and discuss its mutual interaction with the central nervous system. We conclude by conceptualizing how better understanding the multifaceted communicative links between the brain and BAT opens avenues for novel therapeutic approaches to treat obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Keyphrases
- adipose tissue
- insulin resistance
- high fat diet
- high fat diet induced
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- metabolic syndrome
- weight loss
- type diabetes
- resting state
- white matter
- induced apoptosis
- weight gain
- healthcare
- public health
- air pollution
- cerebrospinal fluid
- cerebral ischemia
- particulate matter
- mental health
- oxidative stress
- heat stress
- cell proliferation
- fatty acid
- signaling pathway
- climate change
- brain injury
- cell death
- body mass index
- nitric oxide
- risk assessment
- cell therapy
- bone marrow
- subarachnoid hemorrhage