Abstract
Recent investigations have showed that the functional thermogenic adipocytes are present in both infants and adult humans. Accumulating evidence suggests that the coexistence of classical and inducible brown (brite) adipocytes in humans at adulthood and these adipocytes function to generate heat from energy resulting in reducing body fat and improving glucose metabolism. Human thermogenic adipocytes can be differentiated in vitro from stem cells, cell lines, or adipose stromal vascular fraction. Pre-activated human brite adipocytes in vitro can maintain their thermogenic function in normal or obese immunodeficient mice; therefore, they improve glucose homeostasis and reduce fat mass in obese animals. These key findings have opened a new door to use in vitro thermogenic adipocytes as a cell therapy to prevent obesity and related disorders. Thus, this paper intends to highlight our knowledge in aspects of in vitro human brite/brown adipocytes for the further studies.
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05 October 2017
Volume 73 issue 3 was published with an incorrect cover date. Correct is August 2017. The Publisher apologizes for this mistake and all related inconveniences caused by this.
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An erratum to this article is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-017-0593-x.
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Chu, DT., Tao, Y., Son, L.H. et al. Cell source, differentiation, functional stimulation, and potential application of human thermogenic adipocytes in vitro. J Physiol Biochem 73, 315–321 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-017-0567-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-017-0567-z