Brown fat, the sympathetic nervous system and BMP7

[Kofi]

Once again, BMP7 is downstream of vitamin D3.

Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2009 Aug;30(8):387-96
�
BAT: a new target for human obesity?
Fruhbeck G, Becerril S, Sainz N, Garrastachu P, Garcia-Velloso MJ.
Department of Endocrinology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University
of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.

Two types of adipose tissue can be distinguished histologically and
functionally: white (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). Whereas BAT is
specialized in the production of heat, WAT stores excess energy as
triacylglycerols. BAT is present throughout life in rodents, whereas in
humans it was thought to involute rapidly postnatally, having
essentially disappeared within the first years after birth. However,
positron emission tomography has provided evidence that adults retain
metabolically active BAT depots that can be induced in response to cold
and sympathetic nervous system activation. These findings together with
the recent identification of specific molecular determinants (PRDM16 and
BMP7) activating brown adipogenesis highlights BAT as a potential
relevant target for pharmacological and gene expression manipulation to
combat human obesity.
Publication Types:
* Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 19595466