Glucocorticoids and human brown fat

Glucocorticoid (GC) excess is clinically characterized by increased fat mass and obesity through white adipocyte accumulation. GC involvement in brown adipose tissue is little understood and may contribute to the negative energy balance observed clinically. Barclay and colleagues evaluated the effect of GCs on proliferation, differentiation, and metabolic function of human brown adipocytes. They demonstrate that dexamethasone stimulates the proliferation, differentiation, and function of human brown adipocytes but inhibits adrenergic stimulation. These findings provide strong evidence for an effect of GCs on the biology of human brown adipose tissue (BAT) and for involvement in Cushing's syndrome.

Read the full article at Barclay et al. (2015) Journal of Endocrinology 224 139–147. DOI:10.1530/JOE-14-0538