Palmitoylethanolamide Promotes White-to-Beige Conversion and Metabolic Reprogramming of Adipocytes: Contribution of...

Area of Science:

• Adipose tissue biology
• Metabolic regulation
• Obesity research

Background:

• Brown and beige adipose tissues play a role in combating obesity.
• Browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) improves adipocyte function.
• High-fat diets (HFD) impair adipose tissue plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) on adipose tissue plasticity in mice on HFD.
• To elucidate the mechanisms underlying PEA's effects on adipocytes.

Main Methods:

• Mice were fed a control or HFD, with PEA administration.
• Analysis of adipose tissue morphology, gene expression (UCP1, thermogenic genes), and signaling pathways (PPAR-α, AMPK).
• In vitro studies using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and human adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs).

Main Results:

• PEA restored brown fat morphology and function, increasing UCP1 and noradrenergic innervation.
• PEA promoted beige-conversion of subcutaneous WAT, enhancing thermogenic markers and leptin signaling.
• PEA improved mitochondrial bioenergetics and activated AMPK via PPAR-α.

Conclusions:

• PEA rewires white adipocytes into energy-consuming brown-like adipocytes.
• PEA-mediated effects involve PPAR-α activation and AMPK phosphorylation.
• PEA restores WAT homeostasis and metabolic flexibility, offering a potential strategy against obesity.