Transcriptional Regulatory Circuits Controlling Brown Fat Development and Activation

Diabetes. 2015 Jul;64(7):2369-75. doi: 10.2337/db15-0203. Epub 2015 Jun 7.

Abstract

Brown and beige adipose tissue is specialized for heat production and can be activated to reduce obesity and metabolic dysfunction in animals. Recent studies also have indicated that human brown fat activity levels correlate with leanness. This has revitalized interest in brown fat biology and has driven the discovery of many new regulators of brown fat development and function. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of the transcriptional mechanisms that control brown and beige fat cell development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / physiology*
  • Adipogenesis
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / physiology*
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 / physiology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / physiology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Humans
  • PPAR gamma / physiology
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
  • Repressor Proteins / physiology
  • Trans-Activators / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BMP7 protein, human
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • EBF2 protein, human
  • KLF11 protein, human
  • PPAR gamma
  • PPARGC1A protein, human
  • PRDM16 protein, human
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Zfp516 protein, mouse