Thermogenic adipocytes are specialized cells capable of converting chemical energy into heat and regulating body temperature. However, aging and weight gain can deplete thermogenic adipocytes and increase insulin resistance. Bhagirath Chaurasia, PhD, assistant professor in Endocrinology and Metabolism, aimed to determine the mechanisms behind this correlation in a study recently published in Molecular Metabolism.
“Thermogenic adipocyte quantity and activity inversely correlate with age and adiposity, leading investigators to speculate that disruption of thermogenic adipocytes activity may contribute to the obesity epidemic,” Chaurasia said.