ABSTRACT
Mammals have at least three distinct types of adipocytes—white adipocytes, brown adipocytes, and beige adipocytes—that originate from distinct developmental lineages and possess unique biological roles. In recent years, rapid progress has been made, particularly concerning the regulation and function of beige adipocytes, such as the discovery of noncanonical (UCP 1-independent) thermogenic mechanisms. This chapter overviews the morphological and biochemical characteristics, developmental regulation, and unique function of each type of adipocyte.
