11beta-HSD1 regulates brown adipocyte function

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been known to increase energy expenditure and could therefore be an attractive therapeutic target for obesity. Liu et al. investigated the roles of 11beta-HSD1 in regulating BAT function. They observed a significant increase in the expression of BAT-specific genes, and by contrast a remarkable decrease in BAT-specific gene expression was detected in brown adipocytes when 11beta-HSD1 was over-expressed, which was normalized by BVT.2733 (a selective inhibitor of 11beta-HSD1) treatment. The results of their study indicate that 11beta-HSD1 acts as a vital regulator that controls the expression of genes related to brown fat function and as such may become a potential target in preventing obesity. Liu et al. (2012) Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, accepted preprint (first posted online 29 November 2012).

Read full article at DOI: 10.1530/JME-12-0099.