When exposed to cold, clusters of cells within the body's white fat become beige – a color change that reflects the creation of more energy-producing mitochondria, cellular components that enable cells to burn calories and give off heat. But since white fat cells have very few nerves, how do beige fat cells get the message that it's cold outside?
In research that has implications for diabetes and other metabolic diseases, an international study found that the protein connexin 43 (Cx43) forms cell-to-cell communication channels on the surface of emerging beige fat cells that amplify the signals from those few nerve fibers. The channels act like conduits that speed signals across the gaps between clusters of cells – similar to the way a group email reaches several people at once.
The study, recently published in Cell Metabolism, also found that beige fat, unlike the better-known white and brown fat, has interesting anti-diabetic effects on blood sugar metabolism that seem independent of temperature regulation. Impaired glucose metabolism is a hallmark of diabetes.
"To my knowledge, this is the first time that any fat's thermal regulatory (warming) and metabolic effects on blood sugar have been observed to work independently. Our findings suggest that activating Cx43 may cause the formation of more beige fat and thus increase the anti-diabetic effects seen in this study," lead author of the study said.
To study the metabolic effects of beige fat, the researchers compared mice with Cx43 that are able to make beige fat normally to mice unable to make Cx43, meaning their white fat seldom got the message to change to beige in response to cold. After three weeks in cold temperatures, the mice were returned to normal temperatures and analyzed for glucose (blood sugar) metabolism.
The mice that produced Cx43 showed greater improvement in glucose metabolism, lead author said. Yet, both groups of animals were still able to regulate body temperature, apparently through their brown fat stores, senior author said.
"This study reaches two conclusions: First, Cx43 is necessary for the propagation of nerve signals that lead to beiging of white fat tissue. Second, beige fat may be more interesting from an anti-diabetic, metabolic standpoint – a finding with significant clinical relevance – than from a body temperature, warming standpoint," explained the senior author.
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/news-releases/year-2016/september/beige-fat-scherer.html
Fat cells that amplify nerve signals in response to cold also affect blood sugar metabolism
- 2,102 views
- Added
Edited
Latest News
A drug to prevent flu-induc…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
New origin of deep brain waves
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Starving cells hijack prote…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Miniature battery-free epid…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Molecular causes of differe…
By newseditor
Posted 16 Apr
Other Top Stories
A wireless closed-loop system for optogenetic peripheral neuromodul…
Read more
Detecting Alzheimer's disease six months before diagnosis using AI
Read more
Inhalable form of messenger RNA created!
Read more
Safer and more efficient gene editing!
Read more
LEDs to improve health, food!
Read more
Protocols
MemPrep, a new technology f…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
A tangible method to assess…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
Stem cell-derived vessels-o…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Apr
Single-cell biclustering fo…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Apr
Modular dual-color BiAD sen…
By newseditor
Posted 31 Mar
Publications
How does the microbiota con…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
The integrated stress respo…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
The immunobiology of herpes…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Circulating microbiome DNA…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Spindle oscillations in com…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar