Cited by 172Adipose Tissue and MetabolismPeroxisome Proliferator-Activated ReceptorsMuscle Physiology and Disorders

A Reservoir of Brown Adipocyte Progenitors in Human Skeletal Muscle

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Crisan, Mihaela, Casteilla, Louis, Lehr, Lorenz, Carmona, Mamen, Paoloni-Giacobino, Ariane, Yap, Solomon, Sun, Bin, Léger, Bertrand +7 more·2008·Stem Cells

Abstract

Brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) plays a major role in the control of energy balance in rodents. It has long been thought, however, that there is no physiologically relevant UCP1 expression in adult humans. In this study we show, using an original approach consisting of sorting cells from various tissues and differentiating them in an adipogenic medium, that a stationary population of skeletal muscle cells expressing the CD34 surface protein can differentiate in vitro into genuine brown adipocytes with a high level of UCP1 expression and uncoupled respiration. These cells can be expanded in culture, and their UCP1 mRNA expression is strongly increased by cell-permeating cAMP derivatives and a peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) agonist. Furthermore, UCP1 mRNA was detected in the skeletal muscle of adult humans, and its expression was increased in vivo by PPARγ agonist treatment. All the studies concerning UCP1 expression in adult humans have until now been focused on the white adipose tissue. Here we show for the first time the existence in human skeletal muscle and the prospective isolation of progenitor cells with a high potential for UCP1 expression. The discovery of this reservoir generates a new hope of treating obesity by acting on energy dissipation. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.

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Crossref · 10.1634/stemcells.2008-0325

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  • Brown fat progenitors have been identified in skeletal muscle and white fat of humans.

    “Recently, brown fat progenitors have been identified in skeletal muscle and white fat of humans 120,121, suggesting that it may be possible to increase oxidative capacities in these tissues by targeting these endogenous precursors to differentiate in vivo, and produce energy-dissipating BAT.”

    From Cellular bioenergetics as a target for obesity therapy (2010) · cites this paper as [121]

  • It may be possible to increase oxidative capacities in skeletal muscle and white fat by targeting endogenous brown fat progenitors to differentiate in vivo and produce energy-dissipating BAT.

    “Recently, brown fat progenitors have been identified in skeletal muscle and white fat of humans 120,121, suggesting that it may be possible to increase oxidative capacities in these tissues by targeting these endogenous precursors to differentiate in vivo, and produce energy-dissipating BAT.”

    From Cellular bioenergetics as a target for obesity therapy (2010) · cites this paper as [121]

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  1. Cousin B, Bascands-Viguerie N, Kassis N et al. Cellular changes during cold acclimatation in adipose tissues. J Cell Physiol 1996;167:285-289.

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Authors
Crisan, M., Casteilla, L., Lehr, L., Carmona, M., Paoloni-Giacobino, A., Yap, S., Sun, B., Léger, B., Logar, A., Pénicaud, L., Schrauwen, P., Cameron-Smith, D., Russell, A. P., Péault, B., & Giacobino, J.-P.
Affiliations
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • University of Geneva (CH)
  • Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Clinique Romande de Réadaptation (CH)
  • Maastricht University (NL)
  • School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
  • Deakin University (AU)
Corresponding author
Giacobino, Jean-Paul
Venue
Stem Cells
Published
2008-07-10
Volume
26
Issue
9
Pages
2425-2433
ISSN
  • 1066-5099 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-4918
OpenAlex
W2025838486
Cited by
172
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 12
FWCI
16.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Stem Cells (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (publishedVersion)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • ResearchSpace (University of Auckland) (submittedVersion)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
University of Pittsburgh
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
Keywords
brown adipocytes, brown adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, UCP1, CD34, adipogenesis, progenitor cells, PPARγ agonists, cyclic AMP, uncoupled respiration, obesity, energy dissipation, human skeletal muscle
MeSH terms
Uncoupling Protein 1, Adult, Aged, Animals, Cell Differentiation, Cells, Cultured, Female, Fetus, Humans, Ion Channels, Male, Middle Aged, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Oxygen Consumption, Stem Cells, Muscle, Skeletal, Antigens, CD34, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Mitochondrial Proteins, PPAR gamma, Mice, Adipocytes, Brown

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