Bi-directional interconversion of brite and white adipocytes

Area of Science:

• Metabolism and Endocrinology
• Cellular Biology
• Adipose Tissue Biology

Background:

• Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is crucial for thermogenesis, converting energy into heat.
• Adult mammals possess both classical brown adipocytes and inducible brown-like adipocytes (brite adipocytes) within white adipose tissue (WAT).
• The origin and plasticity of brite adipocytes in response to environmental cues like cold remain areas of active investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cellular fate and plasticity of cold-induced brite adipocytes in mice.
• To determine if brite adipocytes are eliminated or converted upon warm adaptation.
• To explore the potential for interconversion between white and brite adipocyte phenotypes.

Main Methods:

• Cold and warm adaptation protocols in mice.
• Genetic tracing techniques to track adipocyte lineage.
• Transcriptional profiling of isolated adipocytes.
• Morphological analysis of adipocytes.

Main Results:

• Cold-induced brite adipocytes in mice revert to a white adipocyte phenotype upon warm adaptation but are not eliminated.
• These reverted white adipocytes retain the capacity to convert back into brite adipocytes upon subsequent cold stimulation.
• Demonstrated interconversion between white and brite adipocyte phenotypes in adult mice.

Conclusions:

• Brite adipocytes exhibit remarkable plasticity, interconverting between white and brown-like states.
• This interconversion suggests a dynamic regulation of energy expenditure.
• Targeting this white-to-brite adipocyte plasticity could offer novel therapeutic strategies for obesity and metabolic disorders.