人类的脂肪组织一般分为两种白色脂肪通常被认为是储存脂肪的组织,而棕色脂肪在外在条件的刺激下,可以燃烧产生热量.最近研究发现,在寒冷刺激下或者β肾上腺素能受体激动剂处理后,小鼠皮下白色脂肪组织中会出现散在的棕色样脂肪细胞,并将这种脂肪细胞命名为“米色脂肪”.米色脂肪具有白色脂肪和棕色脂肪的功能,并能在两者之间转换,而且从分子生物学角度,成年人体中的棕色脂肪与这种脂肪十分类似.本文就米色脂肪研究的相关进展做一综述.
Generally, human adipocytes can be broadly divided into white and brown fat cells. White fat cells are specialized to store chemical energy and brown adipocytes can produce heat under external stimulation. Recent studies have demonstrated that when mice are exposed to cold or receive β adrenergic stimulation, some brown fat like cells may appear in the subcutaneous white adipose depot, and these cells are called “beige cells”. Beige cells have the characteristics of both white and brown fat cells and can transfer to each other. Biologically brown fat in adult humans is similar to beige cells. This paper is to review the research progress on beige cells.