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Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Isolation and Differentiation of Stromal Vascular Cells to Beige/Brite Cells
Published on: March 28, 2013
Hormonal and nutritional signalling in the control of brown and beige adipose tissue activation and recruitment
Marta Giralt1, Montserrat Cairó1, Francesc Villarroya1
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Abstract:
Recent research has revealed that the activity of adipose tissue (BAT) in adult humans is higher than previously thought, and that obese patients show abnormally low levels of brown fat activity. Studies in experimental animals have shown that BAT is a site of energy expenditure, and that BAT activity protects against obesity and associated metabolic diseases. The action of the sympathetic nervous activity on BAT depots is considered the main regulator of BAT activity in rodent models and possibly also in humans. However, recent research has revealed the existence of additional hormonal factors, produced by distinct peripheral tissues or present in the diet, that influence the amount and activity of BAT. These hormonal factors may act on BAT directly, but also indirectly by targeting the brain and determining the intensity of sympathetic action upon BAT. Identification and characterization of novel factors that control BAT may provide clues for the development of new strategies to treat obesity and metabolic diseases.
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