UCLA-Led Research Discovers Nerve Pathways to Brown Adipose Tissue, Opening Doors for Obesity Treatments
A groundbreaking study led by researchers at UCLA has identified nerve pathways that supply brown adipose tissue (BAT), a type of tissue that plays a crucial role in releasing chemical energy from fat metabolism as heat. This discovery could potentially revolutionize obesity treatments and provide new approaches to weight loss solutions.
The research team, led by Dr. Preethi Srikanthan, professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism, and the director of the Neural Control of Metabolism Center at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has extensively detailed the nerve supply to BAT for the first time. By manipulating these nerve pathways, the researchers were able to observe changes in BAT activity, marking a significant milestone in understanding how to use BAT therapeutically.
BAT is primarily known for its ability to generate heat through fat metabolism, making it an important player in maintaining energy balance and regulating body temperature. The largest deposits of BAT are located in the neck.
According to Dr. Srikanthan, the sympathetic nerve system is responsible for activating BAT activity. However, finding a way to increase BAT activity alone has proven to be challenging due to the sympathetic nervous system’s stimulatory effects on other organs. By mapping out the nerve pathways that activate BAT, the researchers hope to explore ways to provide targeted stimulation to BAT specifically.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE on October 4, utilized a unique research methodology. The researchers dissected the necks of eight cadavers to trace the distribution of sympathetic nerve branches in the fat pad above the clavicle. They found nerve branches connecting the third and fourth cervical nerves to BAT, providing clear evidence of the nerve supply to BAT.
In clinical cases where neck pathology, such as tumor removal, caused alterations in the nerves, the researchers observed changes in BAT activity, further establishing the crucial role of the nerve pathways.
One of the motivations behind this research is the need for long-term solutions to combat obesity. Although effective drugs for weight loss, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, exist, they require long-term consumption. The researchers hope that by understanding the nerve pathways supplying BAT, they can develop methods to chronically stimulate nerves to BAT, ultimately achieving similar therapeutic outcomes of weight loss.
It is important to note that the study has a few limitations. The small number of cadavers dissected and their advanced age, resulting in decreased amounts of BAT compared to younger bodies, limit the generalizability of the findings.
With the hope of finding a way to coax BAT into producing a constant source of fat-burning heat, the researchers are optimistic about the potential impact of their study. They are currently conducting further research to confirm the hypothesis that drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro act by stimulating BAT.
Study co-authors include Dr. Shumpei Mori, Ryan Beyer, Dr. Breno Bernardes de Souza, Julie Sorg, Dr. Harold Sacks, Dr. Michael Fishbein, Dr. Grace Chang, Dr. Warwick Peacock, Dr. Maie St. John, Dr. Olujimi Ajijola, and Dr. Kalyanam Shivkumar of UCLA. Dr. Donald Hoover of East Tennessee State University, and Dr. James Law and Dr. Michael Symonds of the University of Nottingham in the UK also contributed to the study.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provided funding for the research through OT2OD023848. This financial support highlights the significance of the study and affirms its potential to drive future breakthroughs in obesity treatment.