Discovery of a novel inter-organ metabolic communication system

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We have found that adaptive thermogenesis induced by brown adipose tissue (BAT) was markedly suppressed, when hepatic glucose metabolism was enhanced by glucokinase overexpression. This liver-to-BAT communication is mediated by a neuronal relay consisting of afferent vagal and efferent sympathetic nerves. This inter-tissue system seems to function as a feed-forward mechanism favoring energy storage. This mechanism might have worked advantageously under conditions of repetitive excesses and shortagesof food. Unfortunately, however, in the current age of constant plenty, this system seems to trigger obesity development. In fact, we further found that this system contributes to determining obesity predisposition among murine strains.