Cover Story Current Issue

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a specialized fat tissue that is rich in mitochondria and promotes non-shivering thermogenesis by expressing the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Unlike white adipose tissue, it burns calories to produce heat and therefore plays a key role in energy regulation and controlling metabolic health. Increasing energy expenditure by BAT activation is an intriguing therapeutic approach to combat the overwhelming obesity pandemic, either alone or to complement the current pharmacotherapy that mainly addresses energy intake based on the incretin-mimetic poly-agonist class of drugs. With this in mind it is not surprising that a lot of research was conducted to understand the molecular underpinnings of BAT regulation specifically addressing environmental cues. Cold exposure is the most powerful inducer of BAT activation leading to the upregulation of thermogenic gene program and adrenergic receptor-mediated activation of lipolysis and metabolism. BAT activation also occurs post-prandially, especially after acute overfeeding, to trigger diet-induced thermogenesis. However, this compensatory component of energy-expenditure is impaired during chronic overfeeding, a phenomenon that was termed adaptive thermogenesis, and is believed to further drive weight gain and obesity.

Full text

 

Current Issue

Exercise training remodels inter-organ endocrine networks

Cheehoon Ahn, Andrea L. Hevener, Laurie J. Goodyear, Sue C. Bodine, ... Lauren M. Sparks

Exercise training remodels inter-organ endocrine networks

 

Background

Exercise induces organism-wide molecular adaptations, partly mediated by humoral factors released in response to acute and chronic physical activity. However, the extent and specificity of endocrine effects from training-induced secreted factors remain unclear.

Methods

Here, we applied systems genetics approaches to quantify inter-organ endocrine networks using multi-tissue transcriptomics and proteomics data collected from endurance-trained rats in The Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC).

Results

Eight weeks of endurance training significantly altered both the magnitude and specificity of endocrine effects across multiple origin-target tissue pairs. Subcutaneous white adipose tissue emerged as a key endocrine regulator impacted by training, while extracellular matrix-derived factors were identified as globally regulated secretory features in trained vs sedentary animals. Notably, secretory Wnt signaling factors were identified as key mediators of exercise-induced endocrine adaptations in multiple tissues.

Conclusion

Our systems genetics framework provides an unprecedented atlas of inter-organ communication significantly remodeled by endurance exercise, serving as a valuable resource for novel exerkine discovery.

 

Articles in Press

Exercise training remodels inter-organ endocrine networks

Cheehoon Ahn, Andrea L. Hevener, Laurie J. Goodyear, Sue C. Bodine, ... Lauren M. Sparks

Exercise training remodels inter-organ endocrine networks

 

Background

Exercise induces organism-wide molecular adaptations, partly mediated by humoral factors released in response to acute and chronic physical activity. However, the extent and specificity of endocrine effects from training-induced secreted factors remain unclear.

Methods

Here, we applied systems genetics approaches to quantify inter-organ endocrine networks using multi-tissue transcriptomics and proteomics data collected from endurance-trained rats in The Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC).

Results

Eight weeks of endurance training significantly altered both the magnitude and specificity of endocrine effects across multiple origin-target tissue pairs. Subcutaneous white adipose tissue emerged as a key endocrine regulator impacted by training, while extracellular matrix-derived factors were identified as globally regulated secretory features in trained vs sedentary animals. Notably, secretory Wnt signaling factors were identified as key mediators of exercise-induced endocrine adaptations in multiple tissues.

Conclusion

Our systems genetics framework provides an unprecedented atlas of inter-organ communication significantly remodeled by endurance exercise, serving as a valuable resource for novel exerkine discovery.

 

SAVE THE DATE!

13th
Helmholtz Diabetes Conference 
Munich, 21-23. Sep 2026                                                                                                                             

2024 impact factor: 6.6

You are what you eat

Here is a video of Vimeo. When the iframes is activated, a connection to Vimeo is established and, if necessary, cookies from Vimeo are also used. For further information on cookies policy click here.

Auf Werbeinhalte, die vor, während oder nach Videos von WEBSITE-URL eingeblendet werden, hat WEBSITE-URL keinen Einfluss. Wir übernehmen keine Gewähr für diese Inhalte. Weitere Informationen finden Sie hier.