Brown fat thermogenesis and cold adaptation in humans

Abstract Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a site of non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) in mammals. Since the rediscovery of BAT in adult humans, there has been a remarkable advance in human BAT researches, revealing the significant roles of this thermogenic tissue in cold-induced NST and cold adaptation...

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Main Authors: Takeshi Yoneshiro, Mami Matsushita, Juro Sakai, Masayuki Saito
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Physiological Anthropology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00391-w
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author Takeshi Yoneshiro
Mami Matsushita
Juro Sakai
Masayuki Saito
author_facet Takeshi Yoneshiro
Mami Matsushita
Juro Sakai
Masayuki Saito
author_sort Takeshi Yoneshiro
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a site of non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) in mammals. Since the rediscovery of BAT in adult humans, there has been a remarkable advance in human BAT researches, revealing the significant roles of this thermogenic tissue in cold-induced NST and cold adaptation. Cold stress influences BAT in various time spans: acute cold exposure promptly activates BAT to induce NST, which contributes to immediate maintenance of body temperature. Prolonged cold exposure recruits BAT, resulting in increased capacity of NST and improved cold tolerance. Such BAT adaptation not only occurs in the exposed individual but also is passed on to the next generation, probably via the paternal lineage. As such, BAT plays a role in acute, chronic, and transgenerational adaptation to cold environment in humans.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1880-6805
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher BMC
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series Journal of Physiological Anthropology
spelling doaj-art-8311fce4eeee4a30b075cda087f073ed2025-08-20T02:28:42ZengBMCJournal of Physiological Anthropology1880-68052025-04-014411910.1186/s40101-025-00391-wBrown fat thermogenesis and cold adaptation in humansTakeshi Yoneshiro0Mami Matsushita1Juro Sakai2Masayuki Saito3Division of Molecular Physiology and Metabolism, Tohoku University Graduate School of MedicineDepartment of Nutrition, School of Nursing and Nutrition, Tenshi CollegeDivision of Molecular Physiology and Metabolism, Tohoku University Graduate School of MedicineDepartment of Nutrition, School of Nursing and Nutrition, Tenshi CollegeAbstract Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a site of non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) in mammals. Since the rediscovery of BAT in adult humans, there has been a remarkable advance in human BAT researches, revealing the significant roles of this thermogenic tissue in cold-induced NST and cold adaptation. Cold stress influences BAT in various time spans: acute cold exposure promptly activates BAT to induce NST, which contributes to immediate maintenance of body temperature. Prolonged cold exposure recruits BAT, resulting in increased capacity of NST and improved cold tolerance. Such BAT adaptation not only occurs in the exposed individual but also is passed on to the next generation, probably via the paternal lineage. As such, BAT plays a role in acute, chronic, and transgenerational adaptation to cold environment in humans.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00391-w
spellingShingle Takeshi Yoneshiro
Mami Matsushita
Juro Sakai
Masayuki Saito
Brown fat thermogenesis and cold adaptation in humans
Journal of Physiological Anthropology
title Brown fat thermogenesis and cold adaptation in humans
title_full Brown fat thermogenesis and cold adaptation in humans
title_fullStr Brown fat thermogenesis and cold adaptation in humans
title_full_unstemmed Brown fat thermogenesis and cold adaptation in humans
title_short Brown fat thermogenesis and cold adaptation in humans
title_sort brown fat thermogenesis and cold adaptation in humans
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00391-w
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AT mamimatsushita brownfatthermogenesisandcoldadaptationinhumans
AT jurosakai brownfatthermogenesisandcoldadaptationinhumans
AT masayukisaito brownfatthermogenesisandcoldadaptationinhumans