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Inter-organ regulation of adipose tissue browning

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Abstract

Adaptive thermogenesis is an important component of energy expenditure. Brown adipocytes are best known for their ability to convert chemical energy into heat. Beige cells are brown-like adipocytes that arise in white adipose tissue in response to certain environmental cues to dissipate heat and improve metabolic homeostasis. A large body of intrinsic factors and external signals are critical for the function of beige adipocytes. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of neuronal, hormonal, and metabolic regulation of the development and activation of beige adipocytes, with a focus on the regulation of beige adipocytes by other organs, tissues, and cells. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of inter-organ regulation of adipose tissue browning may provide an avenue for combating obesity and associated diseases.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Hai-Bin Ruan for critical reading of the manuscript and all members of the Yang laboratory for stimulating discussions. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (R01DK089098, R01 DK102648, P01DK057751), American Cancer Society (RSG-14-244-01-TBE), State of Connecticut (DPH2014-0139), and Ellison Medical Foundation to XY, and China Scholarship Council Scholarship to SW.

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  1. Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA

    Simeng Wang & Xiaoyong Yang

  2. Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208016, New Haven, CT, 06520-8016, USA

    Simeng Wang & Xiaoyong Yang

  3. Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Xiaoyong Yang

  4. State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, 710032, Shaanxi, China

    Simeng Wang

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  1. Simeng Wang
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Wang, S., Yang, X. Inter-organ regulation of adipose tissue browning. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 74, 1765–1776 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-016-2420-x

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