Adipose tissue single nucleus RNAseq data

Adipose tissue is usually classified on the basis of its function as white, brown or beige (brite)1. It is an important regulator of systemic metabolism, as shown by the fact that dysfunctional adipose tissue in obesity leads to a variety of secondary metabolic complications2,3. In addition, adipose tissue functions as a signalling hub that regulates systemic metabolism through paracrine and endocrine signals4. Here we use single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) analysis in mice and humans to characterize adipocyte heterogeneity. We identify a rare subpopulation of adipocytes in mice that increases in abundance at higher temperatures, and we show that this subpopulation regulates the activity of neighbouring adipocytes through acetate-mediated modulation of their thermogenic capacity. Human adipose tissue contains higher numbers of cells of this subpopulation, which could explain the lower thermogenic activity of human compared to mouse adipose tissue and suggests that targeting this pathway could be used to restore thermogenic activity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2856-x

脂肪组织通常根据其功能被划分为白色、棕色或米色（明亮色）脂肪。作为一种至关重要的全身代谢调节因子，脂肪组织的重要性体现在肥胖状态下功能失调的脂肪组织会导致多种继发性代谢并发症。此外，脂肪组织充当一种信号中枢，通过旁分泌和内分泌信号调节全身代谢。在本研究中，我们运用小鼠和人类的单核RNA测序（snRNA-seq）技术，对脂肪细胞的异质性进行了表征。我们发现小鼠中存在一种稀有的脂肪细胞亚群，其在较高温度下数量增加，并证实该亚群通过乙酸盐介导的热能生成能力的调节，影响邻近脂肪细胞的活动。人类脂肪组织中该亚群细胞的数量较多，这可能是人类脂肪组织相较于小鼠脂肪组织热能生成活性较低的原因，并暗示针对该途径的治疗可能有助于恢复热能生成活性。https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2856-x