Researchers from Denmark and Germany have made a significant discovery regarding brown fat, also known as brown adipose tissue (BAT), which plays a unique role in the human body’s metabolism. Unlike white fat found around the belly and thighs, brown fat helps burn calories by converting them into heat, particularly in response to cold temperatures.
While previously believed to be present mainly in small animals and newborns, recent studies indicate that some adults retain brown fat throughout their lives. Due to its calorie-burning properties, scientists are exploring ways to activate brown fat safely using drugs that enhance its heat-generating functions.
A new study published in Nature Metabolism by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and the University of Bonn in Germany reveals a previously unknown mechanism in brown fat that acts as an ‘off switch’ shortly after activation. This discovery poses limitations on the effectiveness of utilizing brown fat as a treatment for obesity.
The study’s lead author, Hande Topel, a Senior Postdoc at the University of Southern Denmark, and the Novo Nordisk Center for Adipocyte Signaling (Adiposign), identified a protein named ‘AC3-AT’ responsible for deactivating brown fat. By blocking this ‘off switch,’ researchers believe a new strategy could be developed to activate brown fat safely, potentially addressing obesity and related health issues.
Topel highlights, ‘Finding ways to inhibit AC3-AT could offer a promising approach to activating brown fat and combating obesity. Through genetic manipulation in mice, the research team observed that mice lacking the AC3-AT protein were less prone to obesity, as their bodies exhibited enhanced calorie burning and increased metabolic rates by activating brown fat.’
In an experiment where two groups of mice were fed a high-fat diet for 15 weeks, the group without the AC3-AT protein gained less weight compared to the control group and displayed improved metabolic health. These mice also accumulated less body fat and increased their lean mass, indicating the potential benefits of targeting the AC3-AT protein in activating brown fat.
