An Update on the Secretory Functions of Brown, White, and Beige Adipose Tissue: Towards Therapeutic Applications
Open accessAbstract
Adipose tissue, including white adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT), and beige adipose tissue, is vital in modulating whole-body energy metabolism. While WAT primarily stores energy, BAT dissipates energy as heat for thermoregulation. Beige adipose tissue is a hybrid form of adipose tissue that shares characteristics with WAT and BAT. Dysregulation of adipose tissue metabolism is linked to various disorders, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and infertility. Both brown and beige adipocytes secrete multiple molecules, such as batokines, packaged in extracellular vesicles or as soluble signaling molecules that play autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine roles. A greater understanding of the adipocyte secretome is essential for identifying novel molecular targets in treating metabolic disorders. Additionally, microRNAs show crucial roles in regulating adipose tissue differentiation and function, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for metabolic disorders. The browning of WAT has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach in treating obesity and associated metabolic disorders. Many browning agents have been identified, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have been developed to enhance their efficacy. This review scrutinizes the characteristics of and differences between white, brown, and beige adipose tissues, the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of the adipocytes, the significant roles of batokines, and regulatory microRNAs active in different adipose tissues. Finally, the potential of WAT browning in treating obesity and atherosclerosis, the relationship of BAT with cancer and fertility disorders, and the crosstalk between adipose tissue with circadian system and circadian disorders are also investigated.
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IL-6 released during exercise (possibly in synergy with irisin) promotes browning of WAT by increasing expression of UCP1 and stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis.
“IL-6 released during exercise (possibly in synergy with irisin) has been shown to promote the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) by increasing the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis [52].”
From Exercise-Induced Muscle–Fat Crosstalk: Molecular Mediators and Their Pharmacological Modulation for the Maintenance of Metabolic Flexibility in Aging (2025) · cites this paper as [52]
The Interleukin-6 section (page unavailable) links IL-6 from brown and beige adipocytes to WAT browning, and the Browning agents section links irisin to exercise-induced WAT browning. Neither passage establishes that exercise-released IL-6 acts with irisin or that IL-6 promotes browning by increasing UCP1 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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References 435 · Cited by 139
Research works printed but not linked: 4
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- [125]Gunawardana SC Piston DW Insulin-independent reversal of type 1 diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice with brown adipose tissue transplant Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2015 10.1152/ajpendo.00570.2014 25898954 PMC4469812 · DOI
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- Authors
- Ghesmati, Z., Rashid, M., Fayezi, S., Gieseler, F., Alizadeh, E., & Darabi, M.
- Affiliations
- Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Alizadeh, Effat
- Darabi, Masoud
- Venue
- Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Published
- 2023-12-05
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 279-308
- ISSN
- 1389-9155 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-2606
- PMC
- PMC10942928
- OpenAlex
- W4389348751
- Cited by
- 139
- References
- 435
- Citations by year
- 2026: 57 · 2025: 56 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 4.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Informationszentrum Lebenswissenschaften (ZB MED) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (66664)
- Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein - Campus Lübeck
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
- Keywords
- brown adipose tissue, white adipose tissue, beige adipose tissue, adipocyte secretome, batokines, extracellular vesicles, microRNA, adipose tissue browning, obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, cancer, infertility, circadian rhythm, energy metabolism
- MeSH terms
- Adipose Tissue, Beige, Adipose Tissue, Brown, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Energy Metabolism, Humans, Neoplasms, Obesity, Thermogenesis, MicroRNAs, Adipose Tissue, White
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