Brown adipocytes from pluripotent stem cells: a promising therapy for obesity

The identification of functional brown adipose tissue (BAT) and beige adipose tissue with significant thermogenic capabilities in adults has opened new avenues in the battle against obesity and its associated comorbidities.However, although obesity can be alleviated through strategies such as increasing physical activity, improving diet, and drug intervention, these methods all have inherent limitations, such as low compliance and obvious side effects. Consequently, there is an urgent need to investigate novel and effective methods for combating obesity. With ongoing advancements in stem cell technology, stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising strategy. Recent studies have demonstrated that certain pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into BAT under specific conditions and, when transplanted into mice, can elevate the animals' body temperature and metabolic rate. This suggests that pluripotent stem cells may represent a viable therapeutic option for addressing metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Owing to their distinct advantages, pluripotent stem cells have become the preferred choice for stem cell therapy in the treatment of obesity. This article will mainly focus on the differentiation process of pluripotent stem cells into brown adipocytes, as well as the application of gene editing technology in this field.