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Revisiting brown adipose tissue whitening: Physiological mechanisms and pathophysiological consequences
Le Zhao1, Qing-Jun Zhu1, Min-Hao Li1
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Herbivore Science, Chongqing, China.
The Journal of Physiology
|September 10, 2025
Summary
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) whitening, a complication of obesity, is influenced by age, diet, and temperature. Understanding these factors may reveal new obesity treatments by targeting BAT whitening mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic research
- Obesity studies
- Adipose tissue biology
Background:
- Obesity is linked to adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction and metabolic disorders.
- Brown adipose tissue (BAT) whitening is a chronic complication associated with obesity.
- BAT whitening impacts overall metabolic health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore factors contributing to BAT whitening.
- To summarize regulatory mechanisms of BAT whitening.
- To identify therapeutic strategies for obesity by inhibiting BAT whitening.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature on BAT whitening.
- Analysis of factors influencing BAT whitening, including age, diet, and thermoneutrality.
- Investigation of regulatory mechanisms involving mitochondrial dysfunction, vascular damage, and inflammation.
Main Results:
- BAT whitening is influenced by age, diet, and thermoneutrality via distinct pathways.
- Key regulatory factors involve mitochondrial dysfunction, vascular damage, and inflammation in BAT.
- Current BAT-activating interventions show promise but their precise mechanisms against whitening are unclear.
Conclusions:
- BAT whitening is a significant factor in obesity-related metabolic complications.
- Further research is needed to clarify pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic targets.
- Developing strategies to prevent BAT whitening could offer novel obesity treatments.
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