Characterization and lineage tracing of a mouse adipose depot reveal properties conserved with human supraclavicular brown adipose tissue

Abstract

Enhancing energy utilization by increasing the number or activity of beige adipocytes has the potential to be of therapeutic benefit for a broad range of metabolic disorders. However, knowledge gaps in our understanding of the mouse versus human developmental origins of beige fat have inhibited the generation of robust preclinical models, leaving a barrier to the success of therapies. Here, we report that a distinct inguinal beige adipose tissue (ibAT) depot lineage traces to the same Prx1+ cell origins as inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) but maintains higher thermogenic activity and capability during aging. We discovered that ibAT has the morphological appearance of human supraclavicular brown adipose tissue (scBAT) and, importantly, conserved molecular markers and developmental origins with human scBAT. Our findings reveal a distinct mouse beige adipose tissue depot and provide a preclinical model of human beige adipose tissue development and maintenance.