University College London (UCL), Division of Biosciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Darwin building, Gower street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Sep;24(9):442-50. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2013.05.002. Epub 2013 Jun 25.
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is specialized for heat generation and energy expenditure as a defense against cold and obesity; in both humans and mice increased amounts of BAT are associated with a lean phenotype and resistance to development of the metabolic syndrome and its complications. Here we summarize recent research showing that several BAT-expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulating differentiation and metabolism of brown and beige adipocytes; we discuss the key mRNA targets downregulated by these miRNAs and show how these miRNAs affect directly or indirectly transcription factors important for BAT development. We suggest that these miRNAs could be part of novel therapeutics to increase BAT in humans.
棕色脂肪组织(BAT)专门用于产热和消耗能量,以抵御寒冷和肥胖;在人类和小鼠中,BAT 含量的增加与瘦体型和抵抗代谢综合征及其并发症的发展有关。在这里,我们总结了最近的研究,表明几种 BAT 表达的 microRNAs(miRNAs)在调节棕色和米色脂肪细胞的分化和代谢中发挥重要作用;我们讨论了这些 miRNAs 下调的关键 mRNA 靶标,并展示了这些 miRNAs 如何直接或间接影响 BAT 发育的重要转录因子。我们认为这些 miRNAs 可能是增加人类 BAT 的新型治疗方法的一部分。