Hormonal
Activation of the bile acid receptor TGR5 induces beige remodelling of white adipose tissue (scWAT) by promoting mitochondrial biogenesis and fission, thereby increasing energy expenditure and reducing adiposity.
This research identifies TGR5, a receptor activated by bile acids, as a key driver of fat-burning (beiging) in subcutaneous fat. While this is currently a pharmacological target (using mimetics like INT-777) in research, it suggests that dietary strategies influencing bile acid profiles or TGR5 activation could theoretically support metabolic health and fat loss by turning white fat into energy-expending beige fat.
Here, we show that the bile acid-responsive membrane receptor TGR5 mediates beiging of the subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) under multiple environmental cues including cold exposure and prolonged high-fat diet feeding. Moreover, administration of TGR5-selective bile acid mimetics to thermoneutral housed mice leads to the appearance of beige adipocyte markers and increases mitochondrial content in the scWAT of Tgr5+/+ mice but not in their Tgr5−/− littermates.
Why this rating
High-quality in vivo mouse models (WT, KO, tissue-specific KO) and in vitro human cell lines with robust statistical significance, though translational to humans requires more clinical data.
Source
TGR5 signalling promotes mitochondrial fission and beige remodelling of white adipose tissue
Laura A. Velázquez‐Villegas et al. · Nature Communications · 2018
DOI 10.1038/s41467-017-02068-0
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