Key result
In vitro BAT activity correlates negatively with age, BMI, and ZIC1, but positively with UCP1.
Why the study?
The link between human brown adipose tissue activity and genetic markers has been inadequately explored.
Observational (n=16)
In human BAT-derived adipocytes, high ZIC1 mRNA expression does not necessarily reflect high BAT activity, whereas UCP1 mRNA correlates positively with activity.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Questions ZIC1 mRNA as a BAT activity surrogate in human adipocytes; leaves open in vivo validation versus UCP1.
OBJECTIVE: Human brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity decreases with age and obesity. In addition to uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), several genetic markers of BAT in humans have been published. However, the link between human BAT activity and genetic markers has been inadequately explored. METHODS: White adipose tissue (WAT) and BAT biopsies were obtained from 16 patients undergoing deep neck surgery. In vitro differentiated adipocytes were used to measure norepinephrine-stimulated mitochondrial uncoupling as a measure of in vitro BAT activity. Gene expression was determined in adipose tissue biopsies. RESULTS: Norepinephrine increased in vitro BAT activity in adipocytes derived from human BAT, and this increase was abolished by propranolol. Furthermore, in vitro BAT activity showed a negative correlation to age and BMI. UCP1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression showed a positive correlation to in vitro BAT activity, while zinc finger protein of cerebellum 1 (ZIC1) mRNA showed a negative correlation to in vitro BAT activity. In human BAT biopsies, UCP1 mRNA showed negative correlations to age and BMI, while ZIC1 mRNA showed positive correlations to age and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Differentiated adipocytes derived from human BAT maintain intrinsic characteristics of the donor. High ZIC1 mRNA does not necessarily reflect high BAT activity.
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Nascimento et al. (2017) conducted an observational in Patients undergoing deep neck surgery (n=16). Age, BMI, and genetic markers (UCP1, ZIC1) was evaluated on In vitro BAT activity (norepinephrine-stimulated mitochondrial uncoupling) and gene expression. In vitro brown adipose tissue activity correlated negatively with age, BMI, and ZIC1 mRNA expression, but positively with UCP1 mRNA expression.
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