Brown Fat News and Research

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Biologists identify signaling pathway that switches on calorie-burning process in brown fat cells

Biologists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified a signaling pathway that switches on a powerful calorie-burning process in brown fat cells.

1 Aug 2014

People with higher levels of brown fat have better blood sugar control

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have shown for the first time that people with higher levels of brown fat, or brown adipose tissue, in their bodies have better blood sugar control, higher insulin sensitivity and a better metabolism for burning fat stores.

24 Jul 2014

Study pinpoints molecular cause of cachexia, hints at a potential treatment

New research raises the prospect of more effective treatments for cachexia, a profound wasting of fat and muscle occurring in about half of all cancer patients, raising their risk of death, according to scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

14 Jul 2014

Transcription factor IRF4 plays key role in brown fat's thermogenic process

The body contains two types of fat cells, easily distinguished by color: White and brown. While white fat serves to store excess calories until they're needed by the body, brown adipocytes actually burn fat by turning it into heat.

4 Jul 2014

Study reveals mechanism underlying abnormal fat accumulation in HIV patients

Building upon their earlier research on the biology of fat metabolism, Joslin scientists discovered that microRNAs -small RNA molecules that play important roles in regulation in many types of tissue - play a major role in the distribution and determination of fat cells and whole body metabolism.

3 Jul 2014

Long-term mild cold exposure can stimulate brown fat growth

Long-term mild cold exposure can stimulate brown fat growth and activity in humans and may benefit glucose and energy metabolism, a new study finds.

23 Jun 2014

Researchers demonstrate potential of retinoic acid in preventing type 2 diabetes complications

At a time when obesity, type 2 diabetes, and their complications are a veritable epidemic worldwide, researchers at the University of Montreal and CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM) recently demonstrated the potential of retinoic acid (RA), a derivative of Vitamin A, in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes and preventing their cardiovascular complications.

17 Jun 2014

Danish researchers provide valuable insight into basic mechanisms of stem cell differentiation

The world has great expectations that stem cell research one day will revolutionize medicine. But in order to exploit the potential of stem cells, we need to understand how their development is regulated.

23 May 2014

Supermodel mouse reveals critical role played by unknown gene that regulates metabolism

A lean "Supermodel" mouse type has revealed the potentially critical role played by a largely unknown gene that regulates metabolism, findings that could provide new insight into diseases ranging from diabetes to obesity, a new study by UT-Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggests.

21 May 2014

SGK1 enzyme, asthma and cancer therapies: an interview with Dr. Jonathan D. Powell, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center

SGK1 stands for serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1. SGK1 is a member of the AGC kinase family, which is a huge family of kinases.

13 May 2014

First MRI scan shows 'brown fat' in living adult can help fight diabetes

The first MRI scan to show 'brown fat' in a living adult could prove to be an essential step towards a new wave of therapies to aid the fight against diabetes and obesity.

17 Apr 2014

Study describes how overeating causes brown fat cells to "whiten"

Boston University researchers have learned new information about the consequences of overeating high-calorie foods. Not only does this lead to an increase in white fat cell production, the type prominent in obesity, but it also leads to the dysfunction of brown fat cells, the unique type of fat that generates heat and burns energy.

10 Apr 2014

BioRestorative Therapies, Rohto sign Research and Development Agreement

BioRestorative Therapies, Inc., a life sciences company focused on adult stem cell-based therapies for various personal medical applications, today announced that it has entered into a Research and Development Agreement with Rohto Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. Under the Agreement, BRT has been engaged to provide stem cell research and development services.

25 Mar 2014

Regular exposure to mild cold may be a sustainable way to help people lose weight

Regular exposure to mild cold may be a healthy and sustainable way to help people lose weight, according to researchers writing in the Cell Press publication Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism on January 22nd. On the flip side, that means our warm and cozy homes and offices might be partly responsible for our expanding waistlines.

23 Jan 2014

Lack of SIRT1 protein in the liver leads to lower levels of liver FGF21

A new study led by Boston University School of Medicine demonstrates that the abnormal metabolism linked to obesity could be regulated in part by the interaction of two metabolic regulators, called the NAD-dependent deacetylase SIRT1 and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). Using experimental models, the researchers found that a lack of SIRT1 protein in the liver led to lower levels of a liver secreted protein FGF21, which resulted in an increased likelihood of developing fatty liver disease and obesity.

22 Jan 2014

Hormone associated with improved glucose metabolism activates calorie-burning brown fat

Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered that a hormone long associated with weight loss and improved glucose metabolism is linked to activation of calorie-burning brown fat.

10 Jan 2014

New research shows that as we age, the thermogenic activity of brown fat gets reduced

As most people resolve themselves to lose weight this New Year, here's why it seems to get easier and easier to pack on unwanted pounds: New research published in the January 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal, shows that as we age, the thermogenic activity of brown fat is reduced. Brown fat is a "good" fat located in the backs of our necks that helps burn "bad" white fat around our bellies. Additionally, the researchers also discovered a possible metabolic on/off switch that could reactivate brown fat.

2 Jan 2014

Brown fat stem cells may lead to new treatments for heart and endocrine disorders

Obesity and diabetes have become a global epidemic leading to severe cardiovascular disease. Researchers at the University of Utah believe their recent identification of brown fat stem cells in adult humans may lead to new treatments for heart and endocrine disorders, according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Stem Cells.

22 Nov 2013

Study explains why south Asians have high susceptibility to developing type 2 diabetes

Lower amounts of brown adipose tissue (BAT, or ‘brown fat’) could help explain why south Asians—who make up a fifth of the world’s population—have an exceptionally high susceptibility to developing metabolic problems such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

13 Nov 2013

Researchers find out origin of "brown" fat cells that could impact in battling obesity

In ongoing research aimed at battling obesity, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have deciphered how new fat cells are formed in energy-storing fat pads.

26 Sep 2013