Hormonal
Non-adrenergic Gs-coupled receptors (e.g., secretin, glucagon, adenosine) can stimulate brown adipose tissue thermogenesis independently of the sympathetic nervous system, offering a potential pathway to avoid cardiovascular side effects associated with adrenergic agonists.
Scientists are exploring hormones other than adrenaline (like secretin or glucagon) to activate fat-burning cells. These hormones can boost glucose uptake in brown fat by 57%, but they break down quickly. Future drugs may modify these hormones to last longer, potentially offering a way to boost metabolism without the heart risks of current adrenaline-targeting drugs.
Perhaps the most straightforward approach to non-adrenergically harness BAT activity would be to leverage the same downstream cAMP signaling through other Gs-coupled receptors.
Why this rating
Based on multiple preclinical and some clinical studies cited.
Source
Leveraging GPCR signaling in thermogenic fat to counteract metabolic diseases
Olivia Sveidahl Johansen et al. · Molecular Metabolism · 2022
DOI 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101474
More from this paper
- Pharmacological activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in thermogenic brown and beige adipocytes can increase energy expenditure and improve metabolic health, but current adrenergic agonists have a narrow safety window due to cardiovascular side effects.Good
- Activation of Gq-coupled receptors in brown and beige adipocytes generally suppresses thermogenic competence, whereas specific Gq receptors (like GPR120) can boost lipid oxidation and mitochondrial respiration.Moderate
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