By studying lean and diet-induced obese mice, the team found that more than 1,000 genes in brown fat respond differently depending on the animal’s diet and body weight. In obese mice, brown fat showed a weaker response to cold, with genes controlling energy use, fat metabolism, and stress signaling being less active. The researchers then discovered that epigenetic changes – chemical marks on DNA that control expression – represent a key mechanism through which diet and temperature shape brown fat activity.
“Our results show that obesity reshapes the epigenetic landscape of brown fat and limits its ability to adapt to cold,” says lead author Tobias Hagemann.
This work underscores the importance of epigenetic regulation in brown fat biology and targeting these mechanisms could help restore brown fat function in people with obesity.
About the researchers
The research was led by Tobias Hagemann, Dr. Anne Hoffmann, Dr. Kerstin Rohde-Zimmermann and Dr. John Heiker from HI-MAG, in collaboration with Dr. Juliane Weiner from the University Hospital of Leipzig Medical Center and colleagues from the CRC1052 “Obesity Mechanisms”.
Original publication
Hagemann et al., 2026: Diet and temperature interactively impact brown adipose tissue gene regulation controlled by DNA methylation. Molecular Metabolism. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2025.102315
