Brown Adipose Tissue and Its Role in Insulin and Glucose Homeostasis

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 22; no. 4; p. 1530
• Main Authors: Maliszewska, Katarzyna, Kretowski, Adam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 03.02.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Adipocytes; Adipocytes, Brown - cytology; Adipocytes, Brown - metabolism; Adipose tissue; Adipose tissue (brown); Adipose Tissue, Brown - metabolism; Animals; Biomarkers; Body fat; brown adipose tissue; Cold; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); diabetes type 2; Dyslipidemia; Energy balance; Energy expenditure; Energy Metabolism; Glucose; Glucose - metabolism; Homeostasis; Humans; Insulin; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin resistance; Insulin secretion; Lipid Metabolism; Lipids; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic rate; metabolism; Mitochondria; Obesity; Proteins; Review; Thermogenesis; Uncoupling protein 1; diabetes type 2; metabolism; brown adipose tissue; insulin resistance; obesity
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041530

The increased worldwide prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance, and their related metabolic complications have prompted the scientific world to search for new possibilities to combat obesity. Brown adipose tissue (BAT), due to its unique protein uncoupling protein 1 (UPC1) in the inner membrane of the mitochondria, has been acknowledged as a promising approach to increase energy expenditure. Activated brown adipocytes dissipate energy, resulting in heat production. In other words, BAT burns fat and increases the metabolic rate, promoting a negative energy balance. Moreover, BAT alleviates metabolic complications like dyslipidemia, impaired insulin secretion, and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this review is to explore the role of BAT in total energy expenditure, as well as lipid and glucose homeostasis, and to discuss new possible activators of brown adipose tissue in humans to treat obesity and metabolic disorders.