The main focus of this book is on brown adipose tissue and its metabolic function. The book provides a timely update on the latest research and shows where the field is heading. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates energy and has received considerable attention in the last few years, having been re-discovered in adult humans in 2007/9. Moreover, BAT might offer a target for novel therapies to address obesity, a health condition that has reached pandemic dimensions.

Part 1. Origin of Brown and Beige Adipocytes

1. Brown Adipose Tissue Development and Metabolism
2. Lessons from Cre-Mice and Indicator Mice
3. Aging of Brown and Beige/Brite Adipose Tissue
4. Adipogenesis in Primary Cell Culture
5. In Vitro Models for Study of Brown Adipocyte Biology
6. Brown-Like Adipocyte Progenitors Derived from Human iPS Cells: A New Tool for Anti-obesity Drug Discovery and Cell-Based Therapy?
7. Brown Adipose Tissue in Human Infants
Part 2. Molecular Mechanisms of BAT Function and Signaling
8. Evolution of UCP1
9. The Mechanism FA-Dependent H+ Transport by UCP1
10. Role of cAMP and cGMP Signaling in Brown Fat
11. Fatty Acid Metabolites as Novel Regulators of Non-shivering Thermogenesis
12. Regulatory Small and Long Noncoding  RNAs in Brite/Brown Adipose Tissue
13. Brown Adipokines
Part 3 Detection of BAT in vivo
14. Infrared Thermography
15. In Vivo Detection of Human Brown Adipose Tissue During Cold and Exercise by PET/CT.-16. Techniques and Applications of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Studying Brown Adipose Tissue Morphometry and Function
17. Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography of Brown Adipose Tissue
18. BAT Exosomes: Metabolic Crosstalk with Other Organs and Biomarkers for BAT Activity
Part 4. Recruitment and Activation of human BAT
19. Activation of Human Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT): Focus on Nutrition and Eating
20. Translational Aspects of Brown Fat Activation by Food-Derived Stimulants
21. Translational Pharmacology  and Physiology of Brown Adipose Tissue  in Human Disease and Treatment.