Study identifies immune signal that shifts brown-fat heat production in mice
A Nature study found that an immune signal helps regulate heat-producing brown-fat cells in mice during changes in temperature.
Researchers reported that IL-1β released by immune cells helped keep nearby brown-fat cells in a lower heat-producing state. Cold exposure reduced that signal in the study, while warmer conditions had the opposite effect.
The work was conducted in laboratory models, including mice, and does not establish a treatment for people.