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Isolation and Differentiation of Primary White and Brown Preadipocytes from Newborn Mice
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Parathyroid hormone induces a browning program in human white adipocytes
Oana C Hedesan1, Anna Fenzl1, Astrid Digruber1
1Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|December 7, 2018
Summary
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) induces browning of human white fat cells, increasing energy expenditure. This discovery reveals a new hormonal pathway linking the parathyroid gland to human adipose tissue metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic disease research
- Endocrinology
- Adipose tissue biology
Background:
- Energy dissipation via brown adipose tissue (BAT) or white adipose tissue (WAT) browning is a key strategy against metabolic disease.
- Hormones influence adipocyte thermogenic programming through paracrine or endocrine actions.
- Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related peptide induce adipocyte browning in rodent cachexia models, but human effects are unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of PTH on human adipocyte thermogenesis and metabolic activity.
- To determine if PTH can induce browning in human white adipocytes.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of subcutaneous white adipocyte precursor cells (APCs) from human donors.
- In vitro differentiation of APCs into mature adipocytes.
- Stimulation of differentiated adipocytes with recombinant PTH (acute and chronic administration).
- Assessment of mitochondrial activity, oxidative respiratory capacity, hormone-sensitive lipase activity, and lipolysis.
Main Results:
- PTH administration induced a molecular thermogenic program in human adipocytes.
- Increased mitochondrial activity and oxidative respiratory capacity were observed.
- PTH enhanced hormone-sensitive lipase activity and lipolysis, potentially contributing to thermogenesis.
- PTH demonstrated a role as a mediator of human adipocyte browning.
Conclusions:
- Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a novel mediator of human adipocyte browning.
- PTH administration induces thermogenesis and enhances lipolysis in human white adipocytes.
- This suggests a previously unrecognized endocrine axis between the parathyroid gland and human adipose tissue.
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