How your brain turns up the heat in your fat
The potential role of hypothalamic POMCTRPM2 in interscapular BAT thermogenesis
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Your brain has special cells that can tell your body to make heat, even when you're not shivering. This study found that a protein called TRPM2 in these brain cells acts like a switch to turn on heat production in brown fat.
Surprising Findings
TRPM2 activation increases body temperature without changing UCP1 levels.
For decades, UCP1 was considered the *only* key protein for non-shivering thermogenesis in brown fat. This study shows a major heat boost can happen without it—upending a foundational belief in metabolism science.
Practical Takeaways
Stay warm in cold environments—your body may naturally activate TRPM2 pathways to burn more calories.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Your brain has special cells that can tell your body to make heat, even when you're not shivering. This study found that a protein called TRPM2 in these brain cells acts like a switch to turn on heat production in brown fat.
Surprising Findings
TRPM2 activation increases body temperature without changing UCP1 levels.
For decades, UCP1 was considered the *only* key protein for non-shivering thermogenesis in brown fat. This study shows a major heat boost can happen without it—upending a foundational belief in metabolism science.
Practical Takeaways
Stay warm in cold environments—your body may naturally activate TRPM2 pathways to burn more calories.
Publication
Journal
Experimental & Molecular Medicine
Year
2025
Authors
Ju Hwan Yang, Arbi Bahtiar Boedi Iman Halanobis, Eun-Hye Byeon, Na Hyun Park, Sang Won Park, Hyun Joon Kim, Dawon Kang, Deok-Ryong Kim, Jinsung Yang, Eun Sang Choe, Wanil Kim, Dong Kun Lee
Related Content
Claims (9)
Elevating core body temperature through thermogenic stimuli suppresses the secretion of hunger-regulating hormones.
Scientists traced a direct nerve connection from a brain region that controls hunger to the fat tissue that burns calories.
Even in overweight mice, the brain’s TRPM2 sensor still works — it can still turn on heat production in fat tissue.
When scientists block the TRPM2 sensor, the chemical that normally warms up the mice no longer works — the body temperature stays the same.
Some brain cells that help control hunger and energy use have a special sensor (TRPM2) that can detect certain chemical signals, which might help them tell the body to burn more heat.