Now UCP(rotein), Now You Don't: UCP1 Is Not Mandatory for Thermogenesis

Kv1.3 K+ Channel Physiology Assessed by Genetic and Pharmacological Modulation

Potassium channels are widespread over all kingdoms and play an important role in the maintenance of cellular ionic homeostasis. Kv1.3 is a voltage-gated potassium channel of the Shaker family with a wide tissue expression and a well-defined pharmacology. In recent decades, experiments mainly based on pharmacological modulation of Kv1.3 have highlighted its crucial contribution to different fundamental processes such as regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, and metabolism. These findings link channel function to various pathologies ranging from autoimmune diseases to obesity and cancer. In the present review, we briefly summarize studies employing Kv1.3 knockout animal models to confirm such roles and discuss the findings in comparison to the results obtained by pharmacological modulation of Kv1.3 in various pathophysiological settings. We also underline how these studies contributed to our understanding of channel function in vivo and propose possible future directions.

Multidimensional Single-Nuclei RNA-Seq Reconstruction of Adipose Tissue Reveals Adipocyte Plasticity Underlying Thermogenic Response

Adipose tissue has been classified based on its morphology and function as white, brown, or beige/brite. It plays an essential role as a regulator of systemic metabolism through paracrine and endocrine signals. Recently, multiple adipocyte subtypes have been revealed using RNA sequencing technology, going beyond simply defined morphology but also by their cellular origin, adaptation to metabolic stress, and plasticity. Here, we performed an in-depth analysis of publicly available single-nuclei RNAseq from adipose tissue and utilized a workflow template to characterize adipocyte plasticity, heterogeneity, and secretome profiles. The reanalyzed dataset led to the identification of different subtypes of adipocytes including three subpopulations of thermogenic adipocytes, and provided a characterization of distinct transcriptional profiles along the adipocyte trajectory under thermogenic challenges. This study provides a useful resource for further investigations regarding mechanisms related to adipocyte plasticity and trans-differentiation.

Thermogenic adipocytes: lineage, function and therapeutic potential

Metabolic inflexibility, defined as the inability to respond or adapt to metabolic demand, is now recognised as a driving factor behind many pathologies associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Adipose tissue plays a pivotal role in the ability of an organism to sense, adapt to and counteract environmental changes. It provides a buffer in times of nutrient excess, a fuel reserve during starvation and the ability to resist cold-stress through non-shivering thermogenesis. Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing combined with lineage tracing, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses have identified novel adipocyte progenitors that give rise to specialised adipocytes with diverse functions, some of which have the potential to be exploited therapeutically. This review will highlight the common and distinct functions of well-known adipocyte populations with respect to their lineage and plasticity, as well as introducing the most recent members of the adipocyte family and their roles in whole organism energy homeostasis. Finally, this article will outline some of the more preliminary findings from large data sets generated by single-cell transcriptomics of mouse and human adipose tissue and their implications for the field, both for discovery and for therapy.

Molecular insights into therapeutic promise of targeting of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in obesity

Obesity is a curable disorder which is a global health concern, linked to an excess amount of fat. It is caused by inherited and environmental factors and can be grim to maintain through dieting only. The importance of peculiar Wnt/β-catenin signaling has directed considerable efforts in the future production of therapeutic approaches in metabolic complications, including obesity. The article aims to examine the prospects of Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade in obesity via directing effects of Wnt/β-catenin cascade in regulating appetite. A deep research on the literature available to date, for Wnt/β-catenin cascade in obesity is conducted using various medical databases like PubMed, MEDLINE from the internet. The articles published in English language were mainly preferred. Obesity has developed endemic worldwide, which initiates various obesity-related comorbidities. Obesity is implied by excessive deposition of fat primarily in the adipose tissue. Numerous studies have shown the vital impact of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the growth of body part and biological homeostasis, while latent data illustrate the inherited variations in the Wnt/β-catenin cascade, correlating to several complications. The current article enlightens the stimulation of the Wnt/β-catenin cascade in obesity, mainly depot-explicit impact among adipose tissue during high caloric intake regulation and WAT browning event. Taken all together these data illustrate Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade subsidizes to obesity promoted insulin resistance independent proliferation of adipose tissue.

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling and Obesity

Obesity has become epidemic worldwide, which triggers several obesity-associated complications. Obesity is characterized by excess fat storage mainly in the visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT), subcutaneous WAT (sWAT), and other tissues. Myriad studies have demonstrated the crucial role of canonical Wnt/β-catenin cascade in the development of organs and physiological homeostasis, whereas recent studies show that genetic variations/mutations in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway are associated with human metabolic diseases. In this review, we highlight the regulation of updated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in obesity, especially the distinctly depot-specific roles between subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue under high-fed diet stimulation and WAT browning process.