Search

The HDL-associated apolipoprotein M (apoM) and its ligand sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) may control energy metabolism. ApoM deficiency in mice is associated with increased vascular permeability, brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass and activity, and protection against obesity. In the current study, we explored the connection between plasma apoM/S1P levels and parameters of BAT as measured via 18F-FDG PET/CT after cold exposure in humans. Fixed (n = 15) vs personalized (n = 20) short-term cooling protocols decreased and increased apoM (− 8.4%, P = 0.032 vs 15.7%, P P vs 19.1%, P P = 0.024) after adjusting for study design but not BAT volume (β: 0.39, 95% CI [− 0.01–0.78], P = 0.054). In conclusion, plasma apoM and S1P levels are altered in response to cold exposure and may be linked to changes in BAT metabolic activity but not BAT volume in humans. This contrasts partly with observations in animals and highlights the need for further studies to understand the biological role of apoM/S1P complex in human adipose tissue and lipid metabolism.

Humans have metabolically active brown adipose tissue (BAT). However, what is the relation between exercise or physical activity with this tissue remains controversial. Therefore, the main aim of the present study is to examine whether cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength are associated with brown adipose tissue (BAT) volume and activity after exposure to cold in young, sedentary adults. Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined in 119 young, healthy, sedentary adults (68% women, age 21.9 ± 2.1 years, body mass index 25 ± 4.8 kg/m2) via the maximum treadmill exercise test, and their muscular strength assessed by the handgrip strength test and the 1-repetition maximum bench and leg press tests. Some days later, all subjects were exposed to 2 h of personalized exposure to cold and their cold-induced BAT volume and activity determined by a combination of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography and computed tomography scan. Cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with neither the BAT volume nor BAT activity (P ≥ 0.05). However, handgrip strength with respect to lean body mass was positively (though weakly) associated with BAT activity as represented by the 18F-FDG mean standardised uptake value (SUV) (β = 3.595, R2 = 0.039, P = 0.031) and SUVpeak value (β = 15.314, R2 = 0.037, P = 0.035). The above relationships remained after adjusting for several confounders. No other associations were found. Handgrip strength with respect to lean body mass is positively associated with BAT activity (SUVmean and SUVpeak) in young adults after exposure to cold - but only weakly. Further studies are needed to reveal the relationship between muscular fitness and human BAT characteristics.

Cold exposure is necessary to activate human brown adipose tissue (BAT), resulting in heat production. Skin temperature is an indirect measure to monitor the body’s reaction to cold. The aim of this research was to study whether the most used equations to estimate parameters of skin temperature in BAT-human studies measure the same values of temperature in young lean men (n = 11: 23.4 ± 0.5 years, fat mass: 19.9 ± 1.2%). Skin temperature was measured with 26 ibuttons at 1-minute intervals in warm and cold room conditions. We used 12 equations to estimate parameters of mean, proximal, and distal skin temperature as well as skin temperature gradients. Data were analysed with Temperatus software. Significant differences were found across equations to measure the same parameters of skin temperature in warm and cold room conditions, hampering comparison across studies. Based on these findings, we suggest to use a set of 14 ibuttons at anatomical positions reported by ISO STANDARD 9886:2004 plus five ibuttons placed on the right supraclavicular fossa, right middle clavicular bone, right middle upper forearm, right top of forefinger, and right upper chest.