Research indicates that beige fat deficiency leads to high blood pressure in mice — Evidence Review
Published in Science, by researchers from McGill University
Researched by
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Table of Contents
A new study in mice suggests that "beige" fat, a counterpart to human brown fat, helps prevent high blood pressure by suppressing a vessel-stiffening enzyme; related research largely supports the cardiovascular benefits of brown and beige fat. Multiple studies indicate that brown fat is linked to better heart health and metabolic function in both animal models and humans. See the original findings in the journal Science.
- Earlier research shows brown and beige fat are associated with improved cardiometabolic health, reduced arterial stiffness, and lower risk of hypertension, supporting the new study's results 1 7.
- Multiple animal studies demonstrate that loss or dysfunction of brown/beige fat leads to hypertension, arterial stiffness, and adverse cardiac remodeling, echoing the new findings in mice 12 13.
- Observational and experimental research in humans and animals suggests that the beneficial effects of brown/beige fat extend beyond thermogenesis, involving secretion of signaling molecules that influence vascular health 2 11.
Study Overview and Key Findings
Hypertension and vascular stiffening are major contributors to cardiovascular disease, particularly in the context of obesity. While excess body fat is a known risk factor, this study addresses the emerging question of how different fat types—specifically brown/beige versus white fat—affect blood vessel function. The research, led by Cohen and colleagues, offers new mechanistic insight by pinpointing a molecular pathway linking beige fat loss to elevated blood pressure in mice.
Notably, the study highlights the role of the enzyme QSOX1, which is kept in check by beige fat but surges when beige fat is lost, resulting in stiffer arteries and hypertension. This work advances understanding of the local, non-thermogenic "secretory" effects of beige fat on the cardiovascular system.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Study Year | 2026 |
| Organization | McGill University |
| Journal Name | Science |
| Authors | Koenen, M., Becher, T., Pagano, G., Del Gaudio, I., Barrero, J. A., Montezano, A. C., Ruiz Ortiz, J., Lin, Z., Gómez-Banoy, N., Amblard, R., Schriever, D., Kars, M. E., Rubinelli, L., Halix, S. J., Huang Cao, Z. F., Zeng, X., Butler, S. D., Itan, Y., Touyz, R. M., Cohen, P. |
| Population | Mice |
| Methods | Animal Study |
| Outcome | Blood pressure, vascular remodeling |
| Results | Mice lacking beige fat developed high blood pressure and stiffer vessels. |
Literature Review: Related Studies
To place these findings in context, we searched the Consensus database, which includes over 200 million research papers. The following search queries were used to identify relevant literature:
- brown fat cardiovascular health mechanisms
- beige fat hypertension vessel stiffness
- mice studies brown fat cardiovascular effects
Below, we summarize key themes and findings from the related studies.
| Topic | Key Findings |
|---|---|
| How does brown/beige fat impact cardiovascular and metabolic health? | - Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is associated with lower prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases—including hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease—in humans 1. - BAT transplantation or activation in mice improves cardiac function and mitigates metabolic syndrome, partly through secreted molecules like 12,13-diHOME and exosomes 2 11. |
| What mechanisms link brown/beige fat to blood pressure and vessel stiffness? | - Loss or dysfunction of brown/beige fat in mice leads to hypertension, arterial stiffness, vascular remodeling, and cardiac fibrosis, mirroring human obesity complications 12 13. - Inflammation and impaired browning of perivascular fat during obesity promote release of vasculature-damaging signals and increase vessel stiffness 3 7 9. |
| How does fat distribution and type affect vascular function? | - Arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk are more strongly linked to visceral and perivascular fat than to overall obesity, with thermogenic brown/beige depots offering protection 7 8. - Browning of white adipose tissue, via factors like exercise or musclin, may reduce metabolic and cardiovascular risk 4. |
How does brown/beige fat impact cardiovascular and metabolic health?
The related studies consistently show that brown and beige fat play protective roles in both metabolic and cardiovascular health. In humans, the presence of brown fat is linked to lower rates of hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease, especially in those with obesity 1. In animal models, interventions that increase brown fat—such as transplantation or promoting browning—improve cardiac function and metabolic profiles, supporting the idea that brown/beige fat is cardioprotective 2 11.
- Human studies report lower cardiometabolic disease prevalence in those with detectable BAT, even after adjusting for confounders 1.
- BAT transplantation in mice leads to improved cardiac function via endocrine signaling, including release of the lipokine 12,13-diHOME 2.
- BAT-derived exosomes mitigate metabolic syndrome and restore cardiac function in obese mice 11.
- These benefits extend beyond thermogenesis, involving secreted molecules that act on distant tissues 2 11.
What mechanisms link brown/beige fat to blood pressure and vessel stiffness?
Multiple animal studies reveal that loss or dysfunction of brown/beige fat results in hypertension, arterial stiffening, and adverse cardiac remodeling—findings that closely parallel those of the new study. Impairment of beige fat's identity or function, whether genetic or inflammation-driven, leads to release of factors that damage the vascular wall, increase fibrosis, and reduce vessel compliance 3 12 13. This supports the new study's identification of a specific secreted enzyme (QSOX1) as a mediator of these effects.
- Mice with reduced brown fat exhibit hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and increased cardiac fibrosis 12.
- Functional BAT limits cardiomyocyte injury and adverse remodeling in models of cardiac stress; loss of BAT worsens outcomes 13.
- Inflammation in perivascular (and other) adipose depots impairs browning and increases release of pro-inflammatory, vessel-stiffening signals 3 9.
- These findings align with the new study's mechanistic focus on local, non-thermogenic effects of beige fat on vascular health.
How does fat distribution and type affect vascular function?
The relationship between fat and vascular health is nuanced: the location and type of fat are critical determinants of cardiovascular risk. Studies indicate that visceral and perivascular fat, as well as dysfunctional white fat, are more strongly associated with arterial stiffness and hypertension than overall obesity measures like BMI 7 8. Conversely, brown and beige fat depots, especially when present around blood vessels, have a protective effect, possibly by secreting beneficial factors or by limiting the local release of vasoconstrictive signals 4 7.
- Abdominal and visceral fat are linked to increased arterial stiffness and higher cardiovascular risk, while subcutaneous and brown/beige fat are less harmful or even protective 7 8.
- Browning of white fat (induced by exercise, certain hormones, or transcription factors) may offer cardiometabolic benefits 4.
- The heterogenous phenotype of perivascular adipose tissue highlights the importance of local fat characteristics in vascular disease development 7.
- The findings support the idea that enhancing beige/brown fat identity, particularly in perivascular locations, could help prevent hypertension and vascular dysfunction 4 7.
Future Research Questions
Although this new study advances understanding of beige fat's role in blood pressure regulation and vascular health, key questions remain. Further research is needed to clarify the relevance of these mechanisms in humans, to determine whether therapies targeting QSOX1 or fat browning are effective, and to explore the broader clinical implications.
| Research Question | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Does QSOX1 play a similar role in human brown/beige fat and hypertension? | Understanding whether the QSOX1 pathway identified in mice is conserved in humans is essential for translating these findings to clinical therapies 1 7. |
| Can activation or transplantation of brown fat reduce hypertension in humans? | While animal studies show benefits, clinical trials are needed to determine if increasing brown fat activity improves blood pressure control in people 1 2. |
| What molecules secreted by beige/brown fat mediate vascular protection beyond QSOX1? | Identifying additional secreted factors could reveal new therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease prevention 2 11. |
| How does perivascular fat browning influence vascular function in obesity? | Since perivascular fat phenotype affects local vascular health, studying browning interventions may offer strategies to mitigate obesity-related hypertension and arterial stiffness 3 7. |
| Are QSOX1 inhibitors safe and effective for preventing hypertension or vascular remodeling? | Targeting QSOX1 may offer a precision approach to treating hypertension, but preclinical and clinical safety and efficacy studies are needed 1 7. |