Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2025
06:28
Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging of Interscapular Brown Adipose Tissue
Published on: October 7, 2014
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Senescent immune cells accumulation promotes brown adipose tissue dysfunction during aging.
Xu Feng1, Liwen Wang1, Ruoyu Zhou1
1Department of Endocrinology, Endocrinology Research Center, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Nature Communications
|June 2, 2023
Summary
Aging impairs brown fat
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Metabolism
- Aging Research
Background:
- Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis decreases with age, but the mechanisms are not fully understood.
- Aging is associated with increased inflammation and cellular senescence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of senescent immune cells in age-related decline of BAT thermogenesis.
- To identify molecular mechanisms linking immune cell senescence to impaired BAT function.
- To explore therapeutic strategies targeting senescent immune cells for BAT rejuvenation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of immune cell infiltration and senescence markers in aged rodent BAT.
- Investigation of S100A8's role in regulating gene expression related to axon guidance.
- Xenotransplantation of human immune cells into mice and treatment with S100A8 inhibitor.
Main Results:
- Senescent, bone marrow-derived S100A8+ immune cells (T cells, neutrophils) infiltrate aged BAT.
- These cells inhibit adipose RNA-binding motif protein 3, dysregulating axon guidance and impairing sympathetic innervation.
- Human S100A8+ cells induce aging-like BAT dysfunction in mice; paquinimod treatment rejuvenates aged BAT.
Conclusions:
- Senescent immune cells contribute to age-related BAT dysfunction by disrupting sympathetic innervation.
- Targeting S100A8+ immune cells and their signaling offers a potential therapeutic strategy for metabolic disorders associated with aging.
![Visualization and Quantification of Brown and Beige Adipose Tissues in Mice using [18F]FDG Micro-PET/MR Imaging](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F62460.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
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