Biomaterial Database

Brown adipose tissue. More than an effector of thermogenesis? 1998

Barbara Cannon, and Josef Houstek, and Jan Nedergaard

The Wenner-Gren Institute, The Arrhenius Laboratories F3, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) produces heat by oxidation of fatty acids. This takes place when the tissue is stimulated by norepinephrine; the molecular background for the ability of BAT to produce heat is the tissue-specific mitochondrial protein UCP1. In the classic view of BAT with respect to fever, BAT is an effector organ, producing heat especially during the onset phase of the fever. There is good evidence that BAT thermogenesis is stimulated via a lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, prostaglandin E cascade. Under physiologic conditions of constantly stimulated activity, BAT is expected to be recruited, but in fevers this is only evident in thyroxine fever. However, BAT may be more than merely an effector. There are indications of a correlation between the amount of BAT and the intensity of fevers, and brown adipocytes can indeed produce IL-1 alpha and IL-6. Furthermore, brown adipocytes are directly sensitive to LPS; this LPS sensitivity is augmented in brown adipocytes from IL-1 beta-deficient mice. Thus, BAT may also have a controlling role in thermoregulation. The existence of transgenic mice with ablations of proteins central in fever and in BAT thermogenesis opens up possibilities for identification and elucidation of this putative new role for brown adipose tissue as an endocrine organ involved in the control of fever.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007031	Hypothalamus	Ventral part of the DIENCEPHALON extending from the region of the OPTIC CHIASM to the caudal border of the MAMMILLARY BODIES and forming the inferior and lateral walls of the THIRD VENTRICLE.	Lamina Terminalis,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Area,Area, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Areas, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Preoptico Hypothalamic Area,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Areas
D008070	Lipopolysaccharides	Lipid-containing polysaccharides which are endotoxins and important group-specific antigens. They are often derived from the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria and induce immunoglobulin secretion. The lipopolysaccharide molecule consists of three parts: LIPID A, core polysaccharide, and O-specific chains (O ANTIGENS). When derived from Escherichia coli, lipopolysaccharides serve as polyclonal B-cell mitogens commonly used in laboratory immunology. (From Dorland, 28th ed)	Lipopolysaccharide,Lipoglycans
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D011458	Prostaglandins E	(11 alpha,13E,15S)-11,15-Dihydroxy-9-oxoprost-13-en-1-oic acid (PGE(1)); (5Z,11 alpha,13E,15S)-11,15-dihydroxy-9-oxoprosta-5,13-dien-1-oic acid (PGE(2)); and (5Z,11 alpha,13E,15S,17Z)-11,15-dihydroxy-9-oxoprosta-5,13,17-trien-1-oic acid (PGE(3)). Three of the six naturally occurring prostaglandins. They are considered primary in that no one is derived from another in living organisms. Originally isolated from sheep seminal fluid and vesicles, they are found in many organs and tissues and play a major role in mediating various physiological activities.	PGE
D001833	Body Temperature Regulation	The processes of heating and cooling that an organism uses to control its temperature.	Heat Loss,Thermoregulation,Regulation, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulation, Body,Body Temperature Regulations,Heat Losses,Loss, Heat,Losses, Heat,Regulations, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulations, Body,Thermoregulations
D002001	Adipose Tissue, Brown	A thermogenic form of adipose tissue composed of BROWN ADIPOCYTES. It is found in newborns of many species including humans, and in hibernating mammals. Brown fat is richly vascularized, innervated, and densely packed with MITOCHONDRIA which can generate heat directly from the stored lipids.	Brown Fat,Hibernating Gland,Brown Adipose Tissue,Fat, Brown,Tissue, Brown Adipose
D005334	Fever	An abnormal elevation of body temperature, usually as a result of a pathologic process.	Pyrexia,Fevers,Pyrexias
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015850	Interleukin-6	A cytokine that stimulates the growth and differentiation of B-LYMPHOCYTES and is also a growth factor for HYBRIDOMAS and plasmacytomas. It is produced by many different cells including T-LYMPHOCYTES; MONOCYTES; and FIBROBLASTS.	Hepatocyte-Stimulating Factor,Hybridoma Growth Factor,IL-6,MGI-2,Myeloid Differentiation-Inducing Protein,Plasmacytoma Growth Factor,B Cell Stimulatory Factor-2,B-Cell Differentiation Factor,B-Cell Differentiation Factor-2,B-Cell Stimulatory Factor 2,B-Cell Stimulatory Factor-2,BSF-2,Differentiation Factor, B-Cell,Differentiation Factor-2, B-Cell,IFN-beta 2,IL6,Interferon beta-2,B Cell Differentiation Factor,B Cell Differentiation Factor 2,B Cell Stimulatory Factor 2,Differentiation Factor 2, B Cell,Differentiation Factor, B Cell,Differentiation-Inducing Protein, Myeloid,Growth Factor, Hybridoma,Growth Factor, Plasmacytoma,Hepatocyte Stimulating Factor,Interferon beta 2,Interleukin 6,Myeloid Differentiation Inducing Protein,beta-2, Interferon