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Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Isolation and Differentiation of Stromal Vascular Cells to Beige/Brite Cells
Published on: March 28, 2013
Brown fat activation reduces hypercholesterolaemia and protects from atherosclerosis development
Jimmy F P Berbée1, Mariëtte R Boon1, P Padmini S J Khedoe2
11] Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Leiden 2333 ZA, The Netherlands [2] Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Leiden 2333 ZA, The Netherlands.
Activating brown adipose tissue (BAT) lowers cholesterol and triglycerides, protecting against atherosclerosis. This occurs via enhanced fatty acid uptake into BAT and improved hepatic clearance of cholesterol-rich remnants.
Area of Science:
- Metabolism
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Adipose Tissue Biology
Background:
- Brown adipose tissue (BAT) metabolizes fatty acids, impacting obesity and triglyceride levels.
- The role of BAT in cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis is not fully understood.
- Hyperlipidemic mice models are crucial for studying human-like lipoprotein metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of BAT activation in plasma cholesterol metabolism.
- To determine if BAT activation protects against atherosclerosis in a human-like model.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which BAT influences lipoprotein clearance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized hyperlipidemic APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice, a model with human-like lipoprotein metabolism.
- Administered β3-adrenergic receptor stimulation to activate BAT.
- Compared outcomes in Apoe(-/-) and Ldlr(-/-) mice to assess pathway dependency.
Main Results:
- BAT activation by β3-adrenergic receptor stimulation reduced plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
- BAT activation decreased atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice.
- Enhanced uptake of fatty acids into BAT and accelerated hepatic clearance of cholesterol-enriched remnants were observed.
- These protective effects were dependent on a functional hepatic apoE-LDLR pathway.
Conclusions:
- BAT activation is a potent strategy to improve hyperlipidemia.
- Targeting BAT offers a therapeutic approach to protect against atherosclerosis.
- The apoE-LDLR pathway is critical for BAT-mediated cholesterol metabolism benefits.
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