Renaissance of brown adipose tissue

Abstract

The recent discovery of functional brown adipose tissue in human adults raised this tissue again into the focus of current investigations concerning human energy homeostasis. Brown fat is a key thermogenic tissue and is essential for non-shivering thermogenesis in the human newborn and hibernating mammals. This review highlights the biological and molecular aspects of brown adipose tissue development and function from the embryonic state to childhood and adolescence. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.