Hormonal
Forced expression of BMP4 in white adipose tissue induces brown fat-like changes (beige/brite phenotype) in white adipocytes, leading to increased energy expenditure, reduced adiposity, and improved insulin sensitivity.
This research identifies BMP4 as a key protein that, when present in white fat, can transform it into a fat type that burns energy (beige/brite fat). This transformation reduces fat mass and improves how the body handles sugar and insulin. While this is currently a genetic finding in mice, it suggests that therapies targeting BMP4 or its pathways (like p38/MAPK) could potentially help treat obesity and diabetes by leveraging the body's own fat tissue for energy expenditure.
Forced expression of a BMP4 transgene in white adipocytes of mice gives rise to reduced WAT mass and white adipocyte size along with an increased number of a white adipocyte cell types with brown adipocyte characteristics... These changes correlate closely with increased energy expenditure, improved insulin sensitivity, and protection against diet-induced obesity and diabetes.
Why this rating
Strong evidence from multiple mouse models (transgenic overexpression and knockout) and human correlation data, though human interventional data is observational.
Source
BMP4-mediated brown fat-like changes in white adipose tissue alter glucose and energy homeostasis
Shuwen Qian et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2013
DOI 10.1073/pnas.1215236110
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