Suppression of Brown Adipocyte Autophagy Improves Energy Metabolism by Regulating Mitochondrial Turnover.

ABSTRACT: The high abundance of mitochondria and the expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) confer upon brown adipose tissue (BAT) the unique capacity to convert chemical energy into heat at the expense of ATP synthesis. It was long believed that BAT is present only in infants, and so, it was not considered as a potential therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome; however, the discovery of metabolically active BAT in adult humans has re-stimulated interest in the contributions of BAT metabolic regulation and dysfunction to health and disease. Here we demonstrate that brown adipocyte autophagy plays a critical role in the regulation BAT activity and systemic energy metabolism. Mice deficient in brown adipocyte autophagy due to BAT-specific deletion of Atg7-a gene essential for autoph

SUBMITTER: Kim D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6678363 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature