Can white fat be transformed into brown fat by the cold?

Q: Can white fat be transformed into brown fat by the cold?

Because the types of fat cells (adipocytes) that make up white adipose tissue (WAT) come from a different developmental lineage than the brown adipocytes in brown adipose tissue (BAT), the cells in WAT can’t transform into brown adipocytes. [1] However, in response to regular cold exposure, the adipocytes in WAT undergo a transition to a thermogenesis-capable state by expressing some of the same proteins that facilitate heat production in BAT, such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1, also known as thermogenin). [2] The cold-adapted white cells appear light brown in comparison to their non-cold-adapted counterparts and are often referred to as “beige” adipocytes due to their darker color. Papers in the research literature commonly refer to the cold adaptation process in WAT as “beiging” or “browning”. [3]

Question

Accepted Answer

Because the types of fat cells (adipocytes) that make up white adipose tissue (WAT) come from a different developmental lineage than the brown adipocytes in brown adipose tissue (BAT), the cells in WAT can’t transform into brown adipocytes.^[1] However, in response to regular cold exposure, the adipocytes in WAT undergo a transition to a thermogenesis-capable state by expressing some of the same proteins that facilitate heat production in BAT, such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1, also known as thermogenin).^[2] The cold-adapted white cells appear light brown in comparison to their non-cold-adapted counterparts and are often referred to as “beige” adipocytes due to their darker color. Papers in the research literature commonly refer to the cold adaptation process in WAT as “beiging” or “browning”.^[3]

Can white fat be transformed into brown fat by the cold?

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