Context
Obesity is a major public health concern, characterized by an energy imbalance leading to excessive fat accumulation. Among the strategies proposed to combat this condition, increasing adipose tissue metabolism has emerged as a promising approach. In particular, non-shivering thermogenesis, mediated by brown adipose tissue (BAT), plays a key role in dissipating energy as heat. This process can be stimulated by β3-adrenergic receptor agonists or cold exposure, which activate BAT function.
Additionally, the “browning” of white adipocytes—whereby they acquire a thermogenic brown-like phenotype—is partly regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). These nuclear receptors exist in three isoforms (α,β/δ,andγ), each with distinct metabolic roles. However, the specific function of PPARα in adipose tissue, particularly in BAT, remains poorly understood. This knowledge gap is significant given that PPARα is considered essential for cellular metabolic regulation.
In this context, the research team aims to investigate the impact of PPARα inhibition in an obesity model combined with β3-adrenergic stimulation, in order to better understand its role in brown adipose tissue metabolism.
