Hormonal
Elevated expression of the transcriptional coregulator Prdm16 in subcutaneous white adipose tissue induces a brown fat-like gene program, increasing energy expenditure and protecting against high-fat diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance.
This research identifies Prdm16 as a key regulator that allows subcutaneous fat to burn energy like brown fat. While this is currently a mouse model finding, it suggests that therapies targeting this pathway could help combat obesity and insulin resistance by increasing energy expenditure. For now, maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise remains the primary strategy, but this mechanism highlights the importance of subcutaneous fat health.
Transgenic expression of Prdm16 in fat tissue robustly induced the development of brown-like adipocytes in subcutaneous, but not epididymal, adipose depots. Prdm16 transgenic mice displayed increased energy expenditure, limited weight gain, and improved glucose tolerance in response to a high-fat diet.
Why this rating
High-quality mechanistic evidence using transgenic, knockout, and shRNA models in mice, though not human clinical data.
Source
Prdm16 determines the thermogenic program of subcutaneous white adipose tissue in mice
Patrick Seale et al. · Journal of Clinical Investigation · 2010
DOI 10.1172/jci44271
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