Targeting Thermogenesis in Metabolic Disorders: Novel Pharmacological and Lifestyle Interventions

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2025) | Viewed by 3738

Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA
Interests: adipocyte biology; metabolism; physiology; obesity; type two diabetes; insulin signaling; omics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will explore the emerging role of thermogenesis modulation as a strategic approach to combat obesity and related metabolic disorders. Recent advances have highlighted the importance of brown and beige adipose tissue in energy expenditure and metabolic health. This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive overview of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to enhance thermogenic capacity.

Key topics will include the following:

  • Adipose tissue biology and thermogenic mechanisms;
  • Mitochondrial function in thermogenesis;
  • Adrenergic and non-adrenergic pharmacological interventions;
  • Receptor-mediated pathways;
  • Hormonal influences; 
  • Enzymatic targets and downstream effectors;
  • Exercise, cold exposure, and dietary approaches;
  • Future directions in obesity management through thermogenesis.

Dr. Atefeh Rabiee
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • thermogenesis modulation
  • metabolic disorders
  • obesity
  • adipose tissue biology
  • thermogenic mechanisms
  • mitochondrial function

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

45 pages, 2580 KB  
Review
Thermogenesis in Adipose Tissue: Adrenergic and Non-Adrenergic Pathways
by Md Arafat Hossain, Ankita Poojari and Atefeh Rabiee
Cells 2026, 15(2), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15020131 - 12 Jan 2026
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3381
Abstract
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions, driven by energy imbalance and limited capacity for adaptive thermogenesis. Brown (BAT) and beige adipose tissues dissipate energy through non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), primarily via uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), making them attractive targets for increasing energy expenditure (EE). The canonical [...] Read more.
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions, driven by energy imbalance and limited capacity for adaptive thermogenesis. Brown (BAT) and beige adipose tissues dissipate energy through non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), primarily via uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), making them attractive targets for increasing energy expenditure (EE). The canonical β-adrenergic pathway robustly activates NST in rodents through β3 adrenoceptors; however, translational success in humans has been limited by low β3 expression, off-target cardiovascular effects, and the emerging dominance of β2-mediated signaling in human BAT. Consequently, attention has shifted to non-adrenergic and UCP1-independent mechanisms that offer greater tissue distribution and improved safety profiles. This review examines a broad spectrum of alternative receptors and pathways—including GPRs, TRP channels, TGR5, GLP-1R, thyroid hormone receptors, estrogen receptors, growth hormone, BMPs, sirtuins, PPARs, and interleukin signaling—as well as futile substrate cycles (Ca2+, creatine, and glycerol-3-phosphate) that sustain thermogenesis in beige adipocytes and skeletal muscle. Pharmacological agents (natural compounds, peptides, and small molecules) and non-pharmacological interventions (cold exposure, exercise, diet, and time shift) targeting these pathways are critically evaluated. We highlight the translational gaps between rodent and human studies, the promise of multimodal therapies combining low-dose adrenergic agents with non-adrenergic activators, and emerging strategies such as sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase protein (SERCA) modulators and tissue-specific delivery. Ultimately, integrating adrenergic and non-adrenergic approaches holds the greatest potential for safe, effective, and sustainable obesity management. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop