Cell attachment defines sensitivity to cold stress via the Hippo pathway.

Although cells are frequently maintained at cold temperatures during experiments, the effects of cold stress on cell viability and subsequent cellular conditions remain elusive. In this study, we investigated the effects of cold stress on cancer cells under various culture conditions. We showed that cold stress induces ferroptosis, a form of cell death characterized by lipid peroxidation, in sensitive cancer cell lines. High cell density and serum starvation activate the Hippo pathway and suppress cold-induced cell death. Genetic deletion of Hippo pathway components enhances cold stress susceptibility. Furthermore, the cell attachment status influences the response to cold stress, with suspended cells showing greater resistance and faster recovery than attached cells. This study highlights the importance of cellular conditions and the Hippo pathway in the handling and storage of cancer cells at cold temperatures, thereby offering insights into experimental and clinical contexts.

Lysosomal cholesterol overload in macrophages promotes liver fibrosis in a mouse model of NASH.

Accumulation of lipotoxic lipids, such as free cholesterol, induces hepatocyte death and subsequent inflammation and fibrosis in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We have previously reported that hepatocyte death locally induces phenotypic changes in the macrophages surrounding the corpse and remnant lipids, thereby promoting liver fibrosis in a murine model of NASH. Here, we demonstrated that lysosomal cholesterol overload triggers lysosomal dysfunction and profibrotic activation of macrophages during the development of NASH. ß-cyclodextrin polyrotaxane (ßCD-PRX), a unique supramolecule, is designed to elicit free cholesterol from lysosomes. Treatment with ßCD-PRX ameliorated cholesterol accumulation and profibrotic activation of macrophages surrounding dead hepatocytes with cholesterol crystals, thereby suppressing liver fibrosis in a NASH model, without affecting the hepatic cholesterol levels. In vitro experiments revealed that cholesterol-induced lysosomal stress triggered profibrotic activation in macrophages predisposed to the steatotic microenvironment. This study provides evidence that dysregulated cholesterol metabolism in macrophages would be a novel mechanism of NASH.

Distinct functions between ferrous and ferric iron in lung cancer cell growth.

Accumulating evidence suggests an association between iron metabolism and lung cancer progression. In biological systems, iron is present in either reduced (Fe2+ ; ferrous) or oxidized (Fe3+ ; ferric) states. However, ferrous and ferric iron exhibit distinct chemical and biological properties, the role of ferrous and ferric iron in lung cancer cell growth has not been clearly distinguished. In this study, we manipulated the balance between cellular ferrous and ferric iron status by inducing gene mutations involving the FBXL5-IRP2 axis, a ubiquitin-dependent regulatory system for cellular iron homeostasis, and determined its effects on lung cancer cell growth. FBXL5 depletion (ferrous iron accumulation) was found to suppress lung cancer cell growth, whereas IRP2 depletion (ferric iron accumulation) did not suppress such growth, suggesting that ferrous iron but not ferric iron plays a suppressive role in cell growth. Mechanistically, the depletion of FBXL5 impaired the degradation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p27, resulting in a delay in the cell cycle at the G1/S phase. FBXL5 depletion in lung cancer cells also improved the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Overall, this study highlights the important function of ferrous iron in cell cycle progression and lung cancer cell growth.

Iron accelerates Fusobacterium nucleatum-induced CCL8 expression in macrophages and is associated with colorectal cancer progression.

Accumulating evidence suggests that high levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal tumor tissues can be associated with poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC); however, data regarding distinct prognostic subgroups in F. nucleatum-positive CRC remain limited. Herein, we demonstrate that high-iron status was associated with a worse prognosis in patients with CRC with F. nucleatum. Patients with CRC presenting elevated serum transferrin saturation exhibited preferential iron deposition in macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. In addition, F. nucleatum induced CCL8 expression in macrophages via the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, which was inhibited by iron deficiency. Mechanistically, iron attenuated the inhibitory phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 by activating serine/threonine phosphatases, augmenting tumor-promoting chemokine production in macrophages. Our observations indicate a key role for iron in modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway and suggest its prognostic potential as a determining factor for interpatient heterogeneity in F. nucleatum-positive CRC.

Iron-rich Kupffer cells exhibit phenotypic changes during the development of liver fibrosis in NASH.

Although recent evidence suggests the involvement of iron accumulation in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Previously, we reported a unique histological structure termed "crown-like structure (CLS)," where liver-resident macrophages (Kupffer cells) surround dead hepatocytes, scavenge their debris, and induce inflammation and fibrosis in NASH. In this study, using magnetic column separation, we show that iron-rich Kupffer cells exhibit proinflammatory and profibrotic phenotypic changes during the development of NASH, at least partly, through activation of MiT/TFE transcription factors. Activation of MiT/TFE transcription factors is observed in Kupffer cells forming CLSs in murine and human NASH. Iron chelation effectively attenuates liver fibrosis in a murine NASH model. This study provides insight into the pathophysiologic role of iron in NASH. Our data also shed light on a unique macrophage subset rich in iron that contributes to CLS formation and serves as a driver of liver fibrosis.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibition prevents nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-associated liver fibrosis and tumor development in mice independently of its anti-diabetic effects.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a hepatic phenotype of the metabolic syndrome, and increases the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although increasing evidence points to the therapeutic implications of certain types of anti-diabetic agents in NASH, it remains to be elucidated whether their effects on NASH are independent of their effects on diabetes. Genetically obese melanocortin 4 receptor-deficient (MC4R-KO) mice fed Western diet are a murine model that sequentially develops hepatic steatosis, NASH, and HCC in the presence of obesity and insulin resistance. In this study, we investigated the effect of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor anagliptin on NASH and HCC development in MC4R-KO mice. Anagliptin treatment effectively prevented inflammation, fibrosis, and carcinogenesis in the liver of MC4R-KO mice. Interestingly, anagliptin only marginally affected body weight, systemic glucose and lipid metabolism, and hepatic steatosis. Histological data and gene expression analysis suggest that anagliptin treatment targets macrophage activation in the liver during the progression from simple steatosis to NASH. As a molecular mechanism underlying anagliptin action, we showed that glucagon-like peptide-1 suppressed proinflammatory and profibrotic phenotypes of macrophages in vitro. This study highlights the glucose metabolism-independent effects of anagliptin on NASH and HCC development.

Hepcidin and IL-1ß.

Hepcidin expression is determined through transcriptional regulation by systemic iron status. However, acute or chronic inflammation also increases the expression of hepcidin, which is associated with the dysregulation of iron metabolism in pathological conditions. Interleukin (IL)-6 has been suggested to be a principal molecule to confer inflammation-related hepcidin transcription, which is mediated via signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-binding site on the hepcidin promoter. Recently, it has been uncovered that another pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß stimulates hepcidin expression through the distinct mechanism underlying IL-6-mediated hepcidin transcription. In addition to IL-6 induction, IL-1ß stimulates expression of CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)δ, a transcription factor, leading to transcriptional activation of hepcidin via C/EBP-binding site on the hepcidin promoter. Thus, hepcidin transcription is stimulated through multiple elements in response to proinflammatory cytokines. Relationships between increased production of IL-1ß and dysregulated iron metabolism have been suggested in various diseases, which may be linked to overproduction of hepcidin.

JNK facilitates IL-1ß-induced hepcidin transcription via JunB activation.

Hepcidin, a liver-derived hormone, negatively regulates circulating iron levels through an increase in its expression in response to iron overload. Inflammation also increases production of hepcidin, potentially leading to inflammatory anemia. We previously revealed that proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1ß increased hepcidin expression through its transcriptional stimulation in hepatocytes. Induction of CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) δ and IL-6 in response to IL-1ß treatment stimulated hepcidin transcription via the C/EBP-binding site (C/EBP-BS) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-BS on the hepcidin promoter, respectively. Here, we show an additional pathway responsible for IL-1ß-induced hepcidin transcription. IL-1ß stimulated phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and its substrates c-Jun and JunB. SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, blocked IL-1ß-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun and JunB as well as IL-1ß-induced expression and transcription of hepcidin. Reporter assays for hepcidin transcription revealed that reporters with mutations of cAMP response element (CRE) site B, a putative Jun binding element, decreased responsiveness to IL-1ß, and that activated JunB, but not c-Jun, conferred IL-1ß-induced hepcidin transcription. Furthermore, binding of JunB to hepcidin promoter was increased by IL-1ß. The present study indicated that IL-1ß activates JNK and subsequently stimulates JunB activation, leading to hepcidin transcription via CRE site B on the hepcidin promoter. The present experiment provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying induction of hepcidin by inflammation and alteration of iron homeostasis.

Identification of novel bone morphogenetic protein- responsive elements in a hepcidin promoter.

Hepcidin plays a central role in systemic iron metabolism. The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway regulates expression of hepcidin through transcriptional activation via BMP-responsive elements (REs) 1 and 2 on the promoter. Previous studies also revealed that the BMP pathway stimulates transcription of its target genes via GC-rich sequences on the promoter. A search for GC-rich sequences on the hepcidin promoter indicated 13 regions across the distal (A to F), middle (G to I), and proximal (J to M) areas; among them, mutations of the GC-rich element found in regions B to D exhibited decreased responsiveness to ALK3(QD) expression in the presence of BMP-RE1 mutations, indicating necessity of the elements for full expression of hepcidin by the BMP pathway.

Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) transcriptionally activates hepcidin by inducing CCAAT enhancer-binding protein δ (C/EBPδ) expression in hepatocytes.

Hepcidin is a liver-derived hormone that negatively regulates serum iron levels and is mainly regulated at the transcriptional level. Previous studies have clarified that in addition to hepatic iron levels, inflammation also efficiently increases hepatic hepcidin expression. The principle regions responsible for efficient hepcidin transcription are bone morphogenetic protein-responsive elements (BMP-REs) 1 and 2 as well as the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3-binding site (STAT-BS). Here, we show that the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) efficiently increases hepcidin expression in human HepG2 liver-derived cells and primary mouse hepatocytes. The primary region responsible for IL-1ß-mediated hepcidin transcription was the putative CCAAT enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-binding site (C/EBP-BS) at the hepcidin promoter spanning nucleotides -329 to -320. IL-1ß induces the expression of C/EBPδ but neither C/EBPα nor C/EBPß in hepatocytes, and C/EBPδ bound to the C/EBP-BS in an IL-1ß-dependent manner. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced the expression of IL-1ß in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes in the mouse liver; furthermore, the culture supernatants from the macrophage-like cell line RAW264.7 treated with LPS potentiated the stimulation of hepcidin expression in hepatocytes. The present study reveals that: 1) inflammation induces IL-1ß production in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes; 2) IL-1ß increases C/EBPδ expression in hepatocytes; and 3) induction of C/EBPδ activates hepcidin transcription via the C/EBP-BS that has been uncharacterized yet. In cooperation with the other pathways activated by inflammation, IL-1ß pathway stimulation leads to excess production of hepcidin, which could be causative to anemia of inflammation.

Regulation of hepcidin expression by inflammation-induced activin B.

Activin B is induced in response to inflammation in the liver and enhances hepcidin expression, but the source of activin B and the molecular mechanism underlying hepcidin induction are not clear yet. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation induced inhibin ßB but not inhibin α or inhibin ßA expression in the liver, implicating activin B induction. Immunoreactive inhibin ßB was detected in endothelial cells and Kupffer cells in LPS-treated liver. Activin B, but not activin A or activin AB, directly increased hepcidin expression. Activin B induced phosphorylation and activation of Smad1/5/8, the BMP-regulated (BR)-Smads. The stimulation of hepcidin transcription by activin B was mediated by ALK2 and ActRIIA, receptors for the TGF-ß family. Unexpectedly, activin B-induced hepcidin expression and BR-Smad phosphorylation were resistant to the effects of LDN-193189, an ALK2/3/6 inhibitor. ALK2 and ActRIIA complex formation in response to activin B may prevent the approach of LDN-193189 to ALK2 to inhibit its activity. Activin B also induced phosphorylation of Smad2/3, the TGF-ß/activin-regulated (AR)-Smad, and increased expression of connective tissue growth factor, a gene related to liver fibrogenesis, through ALK4 and ActRIIA/B. Activin B-induced activation of the BR-Smad pathway was also detected in non-liver-derived cells. The present study reveals the broad signaling of activin B, which is induced in non-parenchymal cells in response to hepatic inflammation, in hepatocytes.

Role of a TPA-responsive element in hepcidin transcription induced by the bone morphogenetic protein pathway.

Systemic iron balance is governed by the liver-derived peptide hormone hepcidin. The transcription of hepcidin is primarily regulated by the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and inflammatory cytokine pathways through the BMP-response element (BMP-RE) and STAT-binding site, respectively. In addition to these elements, we previously identified a TPA-responsive element (TRE) in the hepcidin promoter and showed that it mediated the transcriptional activation of hepcidin through activator protein (AP)-1 induced by serum. In the present study, we examined the role of TRE in the BMP-induced transcription of hepcidin in HepG2 liver cells. The serum treatment increased the basal transcription of hepcidin; however, responsiveness to the expression of ALK3(QD), a constitutively active BMP type I receptor, was unaffected. Consistent with these results, mutations in TRE in the hepcidin promoter decreased basal transcription, whereas responsiveness to the expression of ALK3(QD) remained unchanged. HepG2 cells significantly expressed AP-1 components in the basal state, whereas BMP did not up-regulate the expression of these components. The expression of c-fos enhanced the basal transcription of hepcidin as well as ALK3(QD)-mediated hepcidin transcription, whereas that of dominant-negative c-fos decreased hepcidin transcription. The results of the present study suggested that the cis-elements of the hepcidin promoter, BMP-RE and TRE, individually transmitted BMP-mediated and AP-1-mediated signals, respectively, whereas transcription was synergistically increased by the stimulation of BMP-RE and TRE.

The regulation of hepcidin expression by serum treatment: requirements of the BMP response element and STAT- and AP-1-binding sites.

Expression of hepcidin, a central regulator of systemic iron metabolism, is transcriptionally regulated by the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway. However, the factors other than the BMP pathway also participate in the regulation of hepcidin expression. In the present study, we show that serum treatment increased hepcidin expression and transcription without inducing the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 in primary hepatocytes, HepG2 cells or Hepa1-6 cells. Co-treatment with LDN-193189, an inhibitor of the BMP type I receptor, abrogated this hepcidin induction. Reporter assays using mutated reporters revealed the involvement of the BMP response element-1 (BMP-RE1) and signal transducers and activator of transcription (STAT)- and activator protein (AP)-1-binding sites in serum-induced hepcidin transcription in HepG2 cells. Serum treatment induced the expression of the AP-1 components c-fos and junB in primary hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. Forced expression of c-fos or junB enhanced the response of hepcidin transcription to serum treatment. By contrast, the expression of dominant negative (dn)-c-fos and dn-junB decreased hepcidin transcription. The present study reveals that serum contains factors stimulating hepcidin transcription. Basal BMP activity is essential for the serum-induced hepcidin transcription, although serum treatment does not stimulate the BMP pathway. The induction of c-fos and junB by serum treatment stimulates hepcidin transcription, through possibly cooperation with BMP-mediated signaling. Considering that AP-1 is induced by various stimuli, the present results suggest that hepcidin expression is regulated by more diverse factors than had been previously considered.

Effects of vitamin a status on expression of ucp1 and brown/beige adipocyte-related genes in white adipose tissues of beef cattle.

We previously reported the presence of brown/beige adipocytes in the white fat depots of mature cattle. The present study examined the effects of dietary vitamin A on the expression of brown/beige adipocyte-related genes in the white fat depots of fattening cattle. No significant differences were observed in the expression of Ucp1 between vitamin A-deficient cattle and control cattle. However, the expression of the other brown/beige adipocyte-related genes was slightly higher in the mesenteric fat depots of vitamin A-deficient cattle. The present results suggest that a vitamin A deficiency does not markedly affect the expression of Ucp1 in white fat depots, but imply that it may stimulate the emergence of beige adipocytes in the mesenteric fat depots of fattening cattle.

Hepcidin expression in liver cells: evaluation of mRNA levels and transcriptional regulation.

Hepcidin produced in the liver negatively regulates intestinal iron absorption, and the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway is well-known to stimulate hepcidin expression. However, the regulation of hepcidin expression has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we evaluate different systems that can be used to determine how hepcidin expression is regulated. The basal expression of hepcidin in liver cell lines, such as HepG2 cells and Hepa1-6 cells, was lower than that in the liver and primary hepatocytes; the expression levels of hepcidin in the cell lines were near the limit of detection for RT-PCR and RT-qPCR analyses. Treatment with trichostatin A, RNAlater, or MG-132 enhanced the expression of hepcidin in HepG2 cells, suggesting that histone deacetylation, instability of mRNA, or proteosomal degradation of the protein(s) that positively regulate hepcidin expression may be responsible for the decreased expression of hepcidin in HepG2 cells. In luciferase-based reporter assays, BMP induced the transcription of a reporter, hepcidin(-2018)-luc, that contains nt -2018 through nt -35 of the hepcidin promoter in HepG2 cells and Hepa1-6 cells. However, BRE-luc, a representative reporter used to evaluate BMP signaling, was unresponsive to BMP in HepG2 cells. These results suggest that hepcidin transcription can be best evaluated in liver cell lines and that the hepcidin promoter senses BMP signaling with high sensitivity. The present study demonstrates that studies regarding the regulation of hepcidin expression at the mRNA level should be evaluated in primary hepatocytes, and liver cell lines are well-suited for studies examining the transcriptional regulation of hepcidin.

Induction of beige-like adipocytes in 3T3-L1 cells.

There are two types of brown adipocytes: classical brown adipocytes that form the brown fat depots and beige adipocytes that emerge in the white fat depots. Beige adipocytes have a low level of uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) expression in the basal state, but Ucp1 expression is increased in response to ß adrenergic receptor activation. The present study explored the factors responsible for the differentiation of 3T3-L1 white preadipocytes to beige adipocytes. Significant expression of Ucp1 was not detected under any tested conditions in the absence of isoproterenol (Iso), an agonist of ß adrenergic receptor. Iso-induced Ucp1 expression was significantly higher in the cells treated with a mixture of triiodothyronine (T3) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) for days 0-8 than in the control cells. Chronic IBMX treatment was indispensable for the enhanced Iso-induced Ucp1 expression, and treatment with additional rosiglitazone (Rosi) for days 0-8 further increased the Ucp1 expression. Recently, genes were identified that are predominantly expressed in beige adipocytes, which were induced from stromal vascular cells in white fat depots. However, the expression levels of the beige adipocyte-selective genes in the adipocytes induced by the mixture of T3, IBMX and Rosi did not differ from those in the control adipocytes. The present study indicates that 3T3-L1 cells can differentiate to beige-like adipocytes by prolonged treatment with the mixture of T3, IBMX and Rosi and that the gene expression profile of the adipocytes is distinct from those previously induced from white fat depots.

Bmp4 expressed in preadipocytes is required for the onset of adipocyte differentiation.

We previously revealed that endogenous bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) activity is required for lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The present study characterized the role of endogenous Bmp activity in preadipocytes. Endogenous Bmp activity was monitored by analyzing the level of phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8, downstream molecules in the Bmp pathway. Higher levels of phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 were detected in adipogenic cells but not in non-adipogenic cells prior to differentiation induction. The inhibition of the Bmp pathway during this period decreased the expression of Pparγ2 and C/ebpα, which are transcription factors responsible for adipocyte differentiation. The expression of these transcription factors were also down-regulated by Bmp4 knockdown. In addition, endogenous Bmp4 was required for the repression of Intrleukin-11 expression. Endogenous Bmp4 in preadipocytes is indispensable for the onset of the adipogenic program, and may help to maintain the preadipocytic state during adipocyte differentiation.

Regulation of brown adipogenesis by the Tgf-ß family: involvement of Srebp1c in Tgf-ß- and Activin-induced inhibition of adipogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Brown adipocytes generate heat through the expression of mitochondrial Ucp1. Compared with the information on the regulatory differentiation of white preadipocytes, the factors affecting brown adipogenesis are not as well understood. The present study examined the roles of the Tgf-ß family members Bmp, Tgf-ß and Activin during differentiation of HB2 brown preadipocytes. METHODS: Endogenous Bmp activity and effects of exogenous Tgf-ß family members were examined. Role of Srebp1c in brown adipogenesis was further explored. RESULTS: Although Bmp7 has been suggested to be a potent stimulator of brown adipogenesis, it affected neither the expression of brown adipocyte-selective genes nor Ucp1 induction in response to a ß adrenergic receptor agonist. Unlike in 3T3-L1 white preadipocytes, endogenous Bmp activity was not required for brown adipogenesis; treatment with inhibitors of the Bmp pathway did not affect differentiation of preadipocytes. Administration of Tgf-ß1 or Activin A efficiently decreased the insulin-induced expression of brown adipocyte-selective genes. Tgf-ß1 and Activin A decreased the expression of Pparγ2 and C/ebpα, suggesting the inhibition of adipogenesis. The Tgf-ß- and Activin-induced inhibition of brown adipogenesis was mediated by the repression of Srebp1c expression; Tgf-ß1 and Activin A blocked Srebp1c gene induction in response to the differentiation induction, and knock-down of Srebp1 expression inhibited brown adipogenesis. CONCLUSION: Endogenous Bmp is dispensable for brown adipogenesis, and Srebp1c is indispensable, which is negatively regulated by Tgf-ß and Activin. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Control of activity of the Tgf-ß family is potentially useful for maintenance of energy homeostasis through manipulation of brown adipogenesis.

Diet-induced changes in Ucp1 expression in bovine adipose tissues.

Brown adipocytes, which regulate non-shivering thermogenesis, have been believed to exist in a limited number of mammalian species, and only under limited physiological conditions. Recent discoveries indicate that adult humans possess a significant number of functional brown adipocytes. This study explores the regulatory emergence of brown adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT) depots of fattening cattle. RT-PCR analyses indicated significant expression of Ucp1, a brown adipocyte-specific gene, in the WAT of 31-month-old Japanese Black steers. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Ucp1-positive small adipocytes were dispersed in the subcutaneous WAT. Next, we examined expression level of Ucp1 and other brown adipocyte-selective genes such as Pgc1α, Cidea, Dio2, Cox1, Cox7a1 and Cox8b in WAT of 30-month-old steers fed either diet with low protein/energy content (roughage diet) or that with high protein/energy content (concentrate diet) for 20months. Ucp1 expression in the subcutaneous WAT was significantly higher in the concentrate diet group than in the roughage diet group. Furthermore, the higher Ucp1 expression levels were limited to the subcutaneous WAT, and no differences between groups were detected in the mesenteric, perirenal, intermuscular or intramuscular WAT. Expression of Dio2, Cox1 and Cox8b was higher in the subcutaneous WAT but not in the mesenteric WAT of the concentrate diet group. Furthermore, expression of Prdm16, a positive regulator of differentiation toward brown adipocyte-lineage cells, and expression of leptin, a molecule that enhances activity of brown adipocytes, were significantly higher in the subcutaneous WAT of the concentrate diet group. This study demonstrates the presence of brown adipocytes in WAT depots of fattening cattle, and suggests the diet-related modulation of expression of genes predominantly expressed in brown adipocytes.