Increased FGF21 expression in brown adipose tissue of TH heterozygous mice: implications for cold-adapatative mechanisms (54th EASD Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes)

Abstract

Obesity is an important global health problem that results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. Whereas white adipocytes accumulate energy in the form of triglyceride depots, brown adipocytes are responsible for non-shivering thermogenesis, and control energy expenditure. Additionally, BAT is a secretory tissue producing batokines, one of which is fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). Classical activation of thermogenesis occurs via noradrenaline (NA) released from the sympathetic nervous system being Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) the first enzyme catalyzing catecholamines synthesis. We have examined how Th-haploinsufficiency in mice affects the response to the stress induced by cold exposure in BAT, and whether FGF21 plays a role in this process.