Human adipose beiging in response to cold and mirabegron

• Published in: JCI insight Vol. 3; no. 15
• Main Authors: Finlin, Brian S., Memetimin, Hasiyet, Confides, Amy L., Kasza, Ildiko, Zhu, Beibei, Vekaria, Hemendra J., Harfmann, Brianna, Jones, Kelly A., Johnson, Zachary R., Westgate, Philip M., Alexander, Caroline M., Sullivan, Patrick G., Dupont-Versteegden, Esther E., Kern, Philip A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Clinical Investigation 09.08.2018
• Subjects: Acetanilides - pharmacology; Acetanilides - therapeutic use; Adipose Tissue, Beige - drug effects; Adipose Tissue, Beige - metabolism; Adipose Tissue, Beige - pathology; Adrenergic beta-3 Receptor Agonists - pharmacology; Adrenergic beta-3 Receptor Agonists - therapeutic use; Adult; Biopsy; Clinical Medicine; Cold Temperature - adverse effects; Energy Metabolism - drug effects; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Female; Humans; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Lipid Metabolism - physiology; Male; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Middle Aged; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - metabolism; Obesity - pathology; Subcutaneous Fat - drug effects; Subcutaneous Fat - metabolism; Subcutaneous Fat - pathology; Thermogenesis - physiology; Thiazoles - pharmacology; Thiazoles - therapeutic use; Uncoupling Protein 1 - metabolism; Obesity; Adipose tissue; Metabolism; Clinical Trials
• DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.121510
• ISSN: 2379-3708

The induction of beige adipocytes in s.c. white adipose tissue (WAT) depots of humans is postulated to improve glucose and lipid metabolism in obesity. The ability of obese, insulin-resistant humans to induce beige adipose tissue is unknown. We exposed lean and obese research participants to cold (30-minute ice pack application each day for 10 days of the upper thigh) or treated them with the β3 agonist mirabegron. We determined beige adipose marker expression by IHC and quantitative PCR, and we analyzed mitochondrial bioenergetics and UCP activity with an Oxytherm system. Cold significantly induced UCP1 and TMEM26 protein in both lean and obese subjects, and this response was not associated with age. Interestingly, these proteins increased to the same extent in s.c. WAT of the noniced contralateral leg, indicating a crossover effect. We further analyzed the bioenergetics of purified mitochondria from the abdominal s.c. WAT of cold-treated subjects and determined that repeat ice application significantly increased uncoupled respiration, consistent with the UCP1 protein induction and subsequent activation. Cold also increased State 3 and maximal respiration, and this effect on mitochondrial bioenergetics was stronger in summer than winter. Chronic treatment (10 weeks; 50 mg/day) with the β3 receptor agonist mirabegron induces UCP1, TMEM26, CIDEA, and phosphorylation of HSL on serine660 in obese subjects. Cold or β3 agonists cause the induction of beige adipose tissue in human s.c. WAT; this phenomenon may be exploited to increase beige adipose in older, insulin-resistant, obese individuals. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02596776, NCT02919176. NIH (DK107646, DK112282, P20GM103527, and by CTSA grant UL1TR001998).