gms | German Medical Science

GMS Current Posters in Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (DGHNOKHC)

ISSN 1865-1038

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Brown adipose tissue in deep cervical fat of adult ENT patients

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  • corresponding author Lukas Varga - Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine a, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Patrik Stefanicka - Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine a, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Miroslav Balaz - Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Timea Kurdiova - Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Milan Profant - Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine a, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Barbara Ukropcova - Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Jozef Ukropec - Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia

GMS Curr Posters Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016;12:Doc019

doi: 10.3205/cpo001370, urn:nbn:de:0183-cpo0013700

Published: April 11, 2016

© 2016 Varga et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Outline

Abstract

Introduction: Until recently, brown adipose tissue (BAT) was only described in newborns. Discovery of thermogenically and metabolically active BAT in adult humans attracted scientists due to its potential to favourably modify the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases. However, most of the available knowledge is based on animal models and imaging data in humans. The aim of our pilot study was to detect and characterize the BAT in the cervical region of adult ENT patients undergoing elective surgery in this anatomical area.

Methods: We present a series of first 20 patients in whom subcutaneous and deep cervical fat samples were taken during thyroid or cervical cyst surgery. Tissue was examined histologically for the presence of multilocular adipocytes typical for BAT. Expression of brown (CIDEA, EVA1, UCP1), beige (TMEM26, TBX1, CD137/TNFRSF9) and white (FABP4) adipose tissue genetic markers was determined.

Results: BAT markers were detected in fat samples of 9 patients (45%). It was visually identified using light microscopy in 3 patients, while genetic markers were positive in 9 cases. The presence of BAT was not dependent on age or sex, but it negatively correlated with the subjects´ body mass index.

Conclusions: BAT is rather unknown tissue to ENT specialists. We provide further evidence of its presence in the deep soft tissue of the neck in adults. Its unique physiological role in energy metabolism is being intensively studied to develop new prevention/treatment strategies for metabolic diseases. As the neck seems to be the major source of BAT in adult human body, it should also raise awareness in our clinical field. Our ongoing research will be focused on its detailed molecular-genetic characterization and factors modulating its physiological function.

Supported by: VEGA 2/0180/15

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