Work

Active whitening of human SGBS adipocytes is associated with coordinated AMPK–HIF–autophagy signalling and mitochondrial remodelling

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Adipocyte whitening is a late-stage phenotypic transition that follows transient browning; however, its cellular and molecular basis remains incompletely understood. In particular, it is debated whether whitening reflects a passive loss of thermogenic identity or an actively regulated adaptive state. Late-stage whitening was investigated in human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) adipocytes using an integrated approach combining quantitative mitochondrial morphology, lipid droplet remodelling, transcriptomics, protein analyses, and network-based bioinformatics. Whitening was characterised by coordinated suppression of thermogenic and oxidative gene programmes, together with enrichment of pathways associated with AMPK signalling, hypoxia response, and autophagy. Quantitative imaging analyses revealed stabilisation and remodelling of the mitochondrial network, with features consistent with mitochondrial quality control rather than degenerative loss of function. Transcriptomic and network analyses further supported the enrichment of autophagy-related processes and -adaptive signalling pathways during the late stages of differentiation. Overall, these findings indicate that adipocyte whitening is an actively regulated adaptive cellular state, integrating mitochondrial structural remodelling with metabolic and stress-responsive signalling. These results provide a conceptual framework for understanding adipocyte phenotypic plasticity during late differentiation.

Source: Tissue and Cell

DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2026.103482

Authors: MONICA COLITTI, Andrea Venerando, Giulia Polacchini

Institution: University of Udine

Language: English

Topic: Adipose Tissue and Metabolism

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,680