APS Why Is Brown Fat Protective Against Metabolic Disease? Exploring UCP1-Independent Mechanisms

This American Physiological Society webinar will discuss brown adipose tissue (BAT, or "brown fat"). BAT is recognized as a "good" fat with protective effects against cardiometabolic diseases. The best-known function of BAT is thermogenesis by the action of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). For many years, UCP1 was considered the sole protein responsible for non-shivering thermogenesis (the process of heat production) in mammals. As such, the metabolic benefit associated with active BAT was thought to be through enhancing UCP1-mediated thermogenesis. However, recent studies identified UCP1-independent pathways that control energy homeostasis. This webinar will discuss the current standing of UCP1-independent mechanisms.

Key learning objectives include:

• understanding what brown fat is, 
• how UCP1 and UCP1-independent pathways control energy metabolism, and
• new insights into the role of brown fat in metabolic disease.

To learn more and to register, visit American Physiological Society.