Caffeine exposure induces browning features in adipose tissue in vitro and in vivo

Velickovic, Ksenija; Wayne, Declan; Lugo Leija, Hilda Anaid; Bloor, Ian; Morris, David E.; Law, James; Budge, Helen; Sacks, Harold; Symonds, Michael E.; Sottile, Virginie

Abstract

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is able to rapidly generate heat and metabolise macronutrients, such as glucose and lipids, through activation of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Diet can modulate UCP1 function but the capacity of individual nutrients to promote the abundance and activity of UCP1 is not well established. Caffeine consumption has been associated with loss of body weight and increased energy expenditure, but whether it can activate UCP1 is unknown. This study examined the effect of caffeine on BAT thermogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Stem cell-derived adipocytes exposed to caffeine (1mM) showed increased UCP1 protein abundance and cell metabolism with enhanced oxygen consumption and proton leak. These functional responses were associated with browning-like structural changes in mitochondrial and lipid droplet content. Caffeine also increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha expression and mitochondrial biogenesis, together with a number of BAT selective and beige gene markers. In vivo, drinking coffee (but not water) stimulated the temperature of the supraclavicular region, which co-locates to the main region of BAT in adult humans, and is indicative of thermogenesis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that caffeine can promote BAT function at thermoneutrality and may have the potential to be used therapeutically in adult humans.

Citation

Velickovic, K., Wayne, D., Lugo Leija, H. A., Bloor, I., Morris, D. E., Law, J., …Sottile, V. (2019). Caffeine exposure induces browning features in adipose tissue in vitro and in vivo. Scientific Reports, 9(1), Article 9104. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45540-1

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 5, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jun 24, 2019
• Publication Date: Jun 24, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jun 13, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 25, 2019
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Electronic ISSN: 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 9104
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45540-1
• Keywords: Caffeine, Coffee, Adipogenesis, Browning, Thermogenesis, Stem cells
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2184225
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-45540-1
• Additional Information: Received: 15 February 2019; Accepted: 5 June 2019; First Online: 24 June 2019; : The authors declare no competing interests.