❙ Wolfgang Domej ❙
Kälteaktivierung des braunen Fettgewebes BAT-activation by cold exposure
SUMMARY Obesity is a major social and medical challenge today, with increasing prevalence rates mainly in western industrial countries. Obesity seriously contributes to metabolic dysfunction and related cardiovascular diseases. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a specialized type of fat capable of providing energy for non-shivering thermogenesis. BAT is a major player in the regulation of metabolic functions and can deliver heat rapidly to adapt the organism to a cold environment. Cold atmosphere, pharmacological influences, and an exercise intensive life style may promote BAT-derived thermogenesis, while pollutants such as ambient fine particulate matter or high oxygen radical burden may impair it. The persistence of BAT even in human adults and the discovery of novel transcription factors for the control of brown adipocyte differentiation remain issues of high interest. Cold and beta-adrenergic stimulation can activate BAT and/or initiate browning of white adipose tissue (WAT). However, impairment or lack of BAT-thermogenic function may evoke metabolic dysfunctions and promote diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and obesity. BAT activity could be the basis for new strategies and pharmacological treatment options for obesity and related diseases. Keywords: Brown adipose tissue (BAT), cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT), obesity, thermogenic adipocytes, obesity-related disorders, white adipose tissue (WAT), energy expenditure. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Fettleibigkeit ist heute weitverbreitet und stellt eine beträchtliche gesellschaftliche wie medizinische Herausforderung vor allem in westlichen Industrieländern dar. Adipositas trägt massiv zur steigenden Prävalenz metabolischer Funktionsstörungen und kardiovaskulärer Erkrankungen bei. Braunes Fettge87
