Switch That Makes Human Brown Fat Burn Energy Discovered

Scientists have now discovered that beta2-adrenergic receptors (b2-AR) in brown fat cells are responsible for stimulating thermogenesis.

Beta2-adrenergic receptors (b2-AR) help activate brown fat in humans. This new finding may lead to new treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity. The results of the collaboration between the Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire //de Sherbrooke (CRCHUS) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) at the University of Copenhagen were published today in Cell Metabolism.

Brown fat burns energy and generates heat - a process called thermogenesis - after being activated by cold temperature or chemical signals. Humans have small deposits of brown fat, and scientists have long hypothesized that finding alternative ways to pharmacologically activate the fat could help improve metabolism.

Brown Fat to Fight Flab
Around 50 grams of white fat stores 300 kilocalories. In contrast the same amount of brown fat burns 300 kilocalories a day. Such is the magic of this good fat.

Scientists have now discovered that beta2-adrenergic receptors (b2-AR) in brown fat cells are responsible for stimulating thermogenesis. According to Dr. Denis Blondin from CRCHUS, the finding could explain why most clinical trials, which have attempted to induce BAT to burn energy, have performed poorly.

"We show that perhaps we were aiming for the wrong target all along. In contrast to rodents, human BAT is activated through the stimulation of the beta2-adrenergic receptor, the same receptor responsible for the release of fat from our white adipose tissue."

Unlocking the therapeutic potential of brown fat

Brown Fat can Help Burn Energy in an Unexpected Way
Small clusters of brown fat cells in our bodies begin to burn up energy when exposed to sufficient cold or exercise. This form of fat can be active in adults, which can turn up the heat from cells to treat obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic conditions.

According to Associate Professor Camilla Schéele at CBMR, this finding has clear therapeutic applications.

A second phase of research will begin in the autumn, which will attempt to validate the finding by activating brown fat with drugs that target b2-AR, explains Professor André Carpentier from CRCHUS:

Brown Fat may Help Protect against Diabetes and Obesity
People with little or no brown fat have limited ability to clear certain amino acids from the blood leading to the development of obesity and diabetes.

"Our next step will be to use a drug that specifically activates that target on brown fat and determine how much it could be of use to burn fat and calories in humans. Once this is done, studies in patients with type 2 diabetes will start to determine if this approach can be useful to improve the metabolic control of the disease."

Source-Eurekalert

Drug Increasing Brown Fat Helps Fight Obesity
Brown fat can burn excess calories by a process called thermogenesis. This brown fat content could be increased by converting white fat to brown by a new drug molecule like BMP8b.