A BAT-Centric Approach to the Treatment of Diabetes: Turn on the Brain

Mohammed K Hankir; Michael A Cowley; Wiebke K Fenske

doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2016.05.003

A BAT-Centric Approach to the Treatment of Diabetes: Turn on the Brain

Cell Metab. 2016 Jul 12;24(1):31-40. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.05.003. Epub 2016 Jun 9.

Authors

Mohammed K Hankir¹, Michael A Cowley², Wiebke K Fenske³

Affiliations

¹ Integrated Research and Treatment Centre for Adiposity Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony 04103, Germany. Electronic address: mohammed.hankir@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
² Department of Physiology, Monash Obesity and Diabetes Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
³ Integrated Research and Treatment Centre for Adiposity Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Saxony 04103, Germany.

PMID: 27292605
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.05.003

Abstract

The marked (18)F-flurodeoxyglucose uptake by brown adipose tissue (BAT) enabled its identification in human positron emission tomography imaging studies. In this Perspective, we discuss how glucose extraction by BAT and beige adipose tissue (BeAT) sufficiently impacts on glycemic control. We then present a unique overview of the central circuits modulated by gluco-regulatory hormones, temperature, and glucose itself, which converge on sympathetic preganglionic neurons and whose activation syphon circulating glucose into BAT/BeAT. Targeted stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system at specific nodes to selectively recruit BAT/BeAT may represent a safe and effective means of treating diabetes.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism*
Animals
Brain / metabolism*
Diabetes Mellitus / metabolism*
Diabetes Mellitus / therapy*
Glucose / metabolism
Hormones / metabolism
Humans
Models, Biological

Substances

Hormones
Glucose