Cold Exposure & Other Mild Stressors for Increased Health & Longevity

[Dean Pomerleau]

13 minutes ago, Gordo said:

The one and only review on amazon though, is pretty underwhelming.

The backpack version (which is basically the same system as Todd and I bought but packaged slightly differently) has many more and more positive reviews. What I found was that (like the "meh" reviewer), the cooling effect of the circulating water was just ok until I dampened the tee shirt I was wearing underneath. With a damp shirt, the vest will keep the entire surface of my upper torso at a constant 55-58degF for several hours.

13 minutes ago, Gordo said:

I am wondering if it cools any better than the Techkewl vest I already own

I think the advantage of the circulating ice water system is that it will keep you consistently cooler for longer than the Techkewl vest. But that may not be enough of an advantage to make it worthwhile to spring for the new vest, especially if you are satisfied with the Techkewl performance.

--Dean

[Mechanism]

Edited

Edited July 20, 2020 by Mechanism

[Dean Pomerleau]

This new study [1] is a great find Mechanism - thanks! Here is a good summary from this article about the study:

The study found that brown fat could also help the body filter and remove branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) from the blood. BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine and valine) are found in foods like eggs, meat, fish, chicken and milk, but also in supplements used by some athletes and people who want to build muscle mass.

In normal concentrations in the blood, these amino acids are essential for good health. In excessive amounts, they're linked to diabetes and obesity. The researchers found that people with little or no brown fat have reduced ability to clear BCAAs from their blood, and that may lead to the development of obesity and diabetes.

What the researchers did in more detail was to measure the levels of various amino acids in the blood of 33 healthy men before and after two hours of relatively mild, full-body cold exposure (66F/19C).  What they found was that two BCAAs (leucine and valine) dropped after cold exposure, but only in men who had active brown adipose tissue (BAT). They found the same drop in BCAAs in mice after cold exposure.

Interestingly, they found that mice who were genetically manipulated to prevent the oxidization BCAAs in their BAT mitochondria were much worse at maintaining body temperature in response to cold, suggesting that BCAA catabolism is an important factor in BAT thermogenesis. 

It complements evidence from a study [2] by Luigi Fontana (which I discussed earlier in this thread here and here) that suggested a low protein diet, and specifically one low in BCAAs like leucine and valine, appear to trigger the browning of white fat, at least when mice are housed at normal (cool for mice) temperature, resulting in improved metabolic healthy.

So in a virtuous cycle, cold exposure promotes the development of brown/beige adipose tissue (BAT) which in turn helps clear BCAAs from the bloodstream. The resultant lowering of BCAAs helps promote further browning of white fat, with the side effect of improved metabolic health.

Conversely, in a vicious cycle, large amounts of BCAAs in the diet (mostly from animals products or supplements) stymies the browning of white fat, meaning fewer BCAAs get absorbed and oxidized by BAT, leaving ever-increasing levels of BCAAs in circulation. The authors of [1] describe why increased circulating BCAAs is unhealthy:

It has been suggested that the accumulation of incompletely oxidized intermediates derived from BCAA oxidation [...] causes insulin resistance [refs]. Conversely, lowering circulating BCAA levels [...] improves glucose tolerance independently of body-weight loss in rats [refs]. Furthermore, reduced mitochondrial BCAA oxidation and subsequent intracellular accumulation of BCAA leads to constitutive activation of mTOR signalling, resulting in persistent IRS-1 phosphorylation by mTORC1 and inhibition of insulin signalling [refs].

 The authors of [1] conclude:

Active BAT acts as a significant metabolic filter for circulating BCAA and protects against obesity and insulin resistance.

--Dean

--------

[1] Nature: August 2019

BCAA catabolism in brown fat controls energy homeostasis through SLC25A44

Takeshi Yoneshiro, Qiang Wang, […]Shingo Kajimura

Abstract

Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA; valine, leucine and isoleucine) supplementation is often beneficial to energy expenditure; however, increased circulating levels of BCAA are linked to obesity and diabetes. The mechanisms of this paradox remain unclear. Here we report that, on cold exposure, brown adipose tissue (BAT) actively utilizes BCAA in the mitochondria for thermogenesis and promotes systemic BCAA clearance in mice and humans. In turn, a BAT-specific defect in BCAA catabolism attenuates systemic BCAA clearance, BAT fuel oxidation and thermogenesis, leading to diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance. Mechanistically, active BCAA catabolism in BAT is mediated by SLC25A44, which transports BCAAs into mitochondria. Our results suggest that BAT serves as a key metabolic filter that controls BCAA clearance via SLC25A44, thereby contributing to the improvement of metabolic health.

 

[2] Cell Rep. 2016 Jun 21. pii: S2211-1247(16)30733-1. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2016.05.092.

Decreased Consumption of Branched-Chain Amino Acids Improves Metabolic Health.

 

Fontana L(1), Cummings NE(2), Arriola Apelo SI(3), Neuman JC(4), Kasza I(5),

Schmidt BA(3), Cava E(6), Spelta F(7), Tosti V(7), Syed FA(3), Baar EL(3),

Veronese N(8), Cottrell SE(9), Fenske RJ(4), Bertozzi B(10), Brar HK(3), Pietka

T(10), Bullock AD(11), Figenshau RS(11), Andriole GL(11), Merrins MJ(12),

Alexander CM(5), Kimple ME(13), Lamming DW(14).

 

Free full text: http://linkinghub.el...1247(16)30733-1

 

Protein-restricted (PR), high-carbohydrate diets improve metabolic health in

rodents, yet the precise dietary components that are responsible for these

effects have not been identified. Furthermore, the applicability of these studies

to humans is unclear. Here, we demonstrate in a randomized controlled trial that 

a moderate PR diet also improves markers of metabolic health in humans.

Intriguingly, we find that feeding mice a diet specifically reduced in

branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) is sufficient to improve glucose tolerance and

body composition equivalently to a PR diet via metabolically distinct pathways.

Our results highlight a critical role for dietary quality at the level of amino

acids in the maintenance of metabolic health and suggest that diets specifically 

reduced in BCAAs, or pharmacological interventions in this pathway, may offer a

translatable way to achieve many of the metabolic benefits of a PR diet.

 

Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

 

DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.05.092 

PMID: 27346343

[Sibiriak]

Thanks Mechanism for the great find,  and thanks Dean  for the additional details and analysis! 

 

Quote

after two hours of relatively mild, full-body cold exposure (66F/19C).  

That indeed is very mild by Siberian standards!    I would love to know what different  effects you get with  much colder exposure for shorter time periods,  but there is so little information available comparing different protocols for systematic cold exposure training. 

 

Why brown fat is good for people's health

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190821135238.htm

 

Quote

Researchers next need to determine whether uptake of BCAAs by brown fat can be controlled by environmental factors -- such as exposure to mildly cold temperatures (65 degrees Fahrenheit) or consumption of spicy foods -- or by drugs.

 

Drugs!   😈

Edited August 22, 2019 by Sibiriak

[Mechanism]

Edited

Edited July 19, 2020 by Mechanism

[Mechanism]

Edited

Edited July 19, 2020 by Mechanism

[Dean Pomerleau]

Thanks Mechanism. Good stuff, but I think you mean "thermoneutral" rather than "thermonuclear" housing temperature. Big difference. 🙂

--Dean 

[Mechanism]

Edited

Edited July 19, 2020 by Mechanism

[Dean Pomerleau]

Cold Exposure Boosts Anti-inflammatory Treg Cells and may Inhibit mTOR

Chronic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to metabolic dysfuction, diseases such as diabetes and CVD, as well as the aging process itself - hence the recently coined term inflammaging. 

This new paper [1] found that in both mice and humans, cold exposure (2h spent just above individually-determined shivering threshold) triggers an increase in the number of Treg cells circulating in the bloodstream. Treg cells are immune system T-cells that play a beneficial regulatory role by suppressing the chronic inflammatory state thought to contribute to aging and disease.

Interestingly, people with higher circulating leptin levels (the "I'm stuffed" signaling hormone) showed less of a boost in Treg Cells following cold exposure. This is in line with the evolutionary hypothesis that CE + CR (and hence low leptin) work synergistically to improve health and longevity. 

I also found this sentence from the discussion section interesting:

The increased BORCS6 mRNA abundance in human CD4+ T cells exposed to short-term cold is in line with a concept in which physiological levels of beta3-adrenergic stimulation can exert mTORC1-inhibiting activity, thereby directly supporting the induction of human FOXP3+ Tregs.

Both CR and potential longevity boosters like rapamycin are known to work at least in part by suppressing mTOR activity, particularly the mTORC1 complex. This was the first I'd heard that adrenergic stimulation (via e.g. cold exposure) can also tamp down mTORC1 activity.

--Dean

-----------

[1] Mol Metab. 2019 Aug 5. pii: S2212-8778(19)30554-X. doi:

10.1016/j.molmet.2019.08.002. [Epub ahead of print]

Short-term cold exposure supports human Treg induction in vivo.

Becker M(1), Serr I(1), Salb VK(1), Ott VB(2), Mengel L(3), Blüher M(4), Weigmann
B(5), Hauner H(6), Tschöp MH(7), Daniel C(8).

OBJECTIVE: Obesity and type-2 diabetes (T2D) are metabolic diseases that

represent a critical health problem worldwide. Metabolic disease is
differentially associated with fat distribution, while visceral white adipose
tissue (VAT) is particularly prone to obesity-associated inflammation. Next to
their canonical function of immune suppression, regulatory T cells (Tregs) are
key in controlling adipose tissue homeostasis. Towards understanding the
molecular underpinnings of metabolic disease, we focus on how
environmental-metabolic stimuli impinge on the functional interplay between Tregs
and adipose tissue. Here, cold exposure or beta3-adrenergic signaling are a
promising tool to increase energy expenditure by activating brown adipose tissue,
as well as by reducing local inflammation within fat depots by supporting
immunosuppressive Tregs. However, in humans, the underlying mechanisms that
enable the environmental-immune crosstalk in the periphery and in the respective 
tissue remain currently unknown.
METHODS: We used combinatorial approaches of next generation humanized mouse
models and in vitro and in vivo experiments together with beta3-adrenergic
stimulation to dissect the underlying mechanisms of human Treg induction exposed 
to environmental stimuli such as cold. To test the translational relevance of our
findings, we analyzed samples from the FREECE study in which human subjects were 
exposed to individualized cooling protocols. Samples were analyzed ex vivo and
after in vitro Treg induction using qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, as well as with 
multicolor flow cytometry and cell sorting.
RESULTS: In vivo application of the beta3-adrenergic receptor agonist mirabegron 
in humanized mice induced thermogenesis and improved the Treg induction capacity 
of naïve T cells isolated from these animals. Using samples from the human FREECE
study, we demonstrate that a short-term cold stimulus supports human Treg
induction in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we identify BORCS6 encoding the 
Ragulator-interacting protein C17orf59 to be significantly induced in human CD4+ 
T cells upon short-term cold exposure. Strong mTOR signaling is known to limit
successful Treg induction and thus likely by interfering with mTOR activation at 
lysosomal surfaces, C17orf59 improves the Treg induction capacity of human naïve 
T cells upon cold exposure.
CONCLUSIONS: These novel insights into the molecular underpinnings of human Treg 
induction suggest an important role of Tregs in linking environmental stimuli
with adipose tissue function and metabolic diseases. Moreover, these discoveries 
shed new light on potential approaches towards tailored anti-inflammatory
concepts that support human adipose tissue homeostasis by enabling Tregs.

Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2019.08.002 
PMID: 31427184 
 

[Gordo]

David Sinclair on cold exposure in a recent interview.

[AlPater]

How an Ice Bath May Undermine Your Weight Workout
Cold water immersion is popular with some athletes, but it may slow the growth of new muscle.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/well/move/weights-muscles-cold-ice-bath-weightlifting-exercise-recovery.html?fallback=0&recId=1RNg6bFSRSnrmDsHpSiBRa8mENW&locked=0&geoContinent=NA&geoRegion=SK&recAlloc=control&geoCountry=CA&blockId=home-discovery-vi-prg&imp_id=622554476
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Cold water immersion attenuates anabolic signalling and skeletal muscle fiber hypertrophy, but not strength gain, following whole-body resistance training.
Fyfe JJ, Broatch JR, Trewin AJ, Hanson ED, Argus CK, Garnham AP, Halson SL, Polman RC, Bishop DJ, Petersen AC.
J Appl Physiol (1985). 2019 Sep 12. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00127.2019. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 31513450
Abstract
Purpose: We determined the effects of CWI on long-term adaptations and post-exercise molecular responses in skeletal muscle before and after resistance training. Methods: Sixteen males (22.9 ± 4.6 y; 85.1 ± 17.9 kg; mean ± SD) performed resistance training (3 d·wk-1) for 7 wk, with each session followed by either CWI (15 min at 10°C, COLD group, n = 8 or passive recovery (15 min at 23°C, CON group, n = 8). Exercise performance [one-repetition maximum (1-RM) leg press and bench press, countermovement jump, squat jump and ballistic push-up], body composition (dual x-ray absorptiometry), and post-exercise (i.e., +1 and +48 h) molecular responses were assessed before and after training. Results: Improvements in 1-RM leg press were similar between groups [130 ±69 kg, pooled effect size (ES): 1.53; ±90% confidence interval (CI) 0.49], while increases in type II muscle fiber cross-sectional area were attenuated with CWI (-1959 µM2; ±1675; ES: -1.37; ±0.99). Post-exercise mTORC1 signalling (rps6 phosphorylation) was blunted for COLD at POST +1 h (-0.4-fold, ES: -0.69; ±0.86) and POST +48 h (-0.2-fold, ES: -1.33; ±0.82), while basal protein degradation markers (FOX-O1 protein content) were increased (1.3-fold, ES: 2.17; ±2.22). Training-induced increases in HSP27 protein content were attenuated for COLD (-0.8-fold, ES, -0.94 ±0.82), which also reduced total HSP72 protein content (-0.7-fold, ES: -0.79, ±0.57). Conclusion: CWI blunted resistance training-induced muscle fiber hypertrophy, but not maximal strength, potentially via reduced skeletal muscle protein anabolism and increased catabolism. Post-exercise CWI should therefore be avoided if muscle hypertrophy is desired.

Edited September 26, 2019 by AlPater

[Dean Pomerleau]

2 hours ago, AlPater said:

How an Ice Bath May Undermine Your Weight Workout
Cold water immersion is popular with some athletes, but it may slow the growth of new muscle.

Thanks Al!

Interestingly, [1] found that only muscle fiber growth (hypertrophy) was negatively affected by cold exposure. In contrast, both total muscle mass and strength increased similarly in both cold-exposed and control groups after 7 weeks of resistance training (three times per week in the control and cold-exposure groups. The one whole body measurement that differed between the groups was in % body fat, which decreased more in the cold-exposed group than the controls (1.7% vs. 1.1%) after 7 weeks of exercise. The authors speculate this difference may have been a result of extra thermogenesis in the cold-exposed group.

So if you hope to develop big muscle fibers, cold exposure may not be your best bet. Although even there, the authors acknowledge the weakness of their study - namely that thrice weekly training in previously untrained individuals may not be intense enough to elucidate the benefits of post-workout cold exposure:

It is possible that if the resistance training protocol were altered to exacerbate residual neuromuscular fatigue and potentially inflammation (e.g., by increasing the frequency and/or volume of training), CWI might have been beneficial for hastening recovery and maintaining training intensity, and therefore may have differentially influenced long-term adaptation. Higher frequencies and/or volumes of resistance training are more likely to be completed by more highly-trained individuals, further suggesting the applicability of the present findings to these populations may be limited.

--Dean

--------

[1] Cold water immersion attenuates anabolic signalling and skeletal muscle fiber hypertrophy, but not strength gain, following whole-body resistance training.
Fyfe JJ, Broatch JR, Trewin AJ, Hanson ED, Argus CK, Garnham AP, Halson SL, Polman RC, Bishop DJ, Petersen AC.
J Appl Physiol (1985). 2019 Sep 12. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00127.2019. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 31513450

[Gordo]

So if muscle mass and strength improvements were the same between these groups, what exactly is the impact of lower muscle fiber growth? 

CE is believed (by some) to lead to rapid muscle recovery (ESPN even wrote about this here), in theory allowing for more reps or higher weight reps in a given session or for an athlete to return to competition at a higher level of capability.  This study did not actually look at that aspect of CE.  It would be interesting to see what the findings would be had they put the test subjects back in the gym immediately after CE or control recovery period.

[Iporuru]

A new study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31694884

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Nov 6. pii: 201909917. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1909917116. [Epub ahead of print]

Adipose tissue NAD⁺ biosynthesis is required for regulating adaptive thermogenesis and whole-body energy homeostasis in mice.

Yamaguchi S¹, Franczyk MP¹, Chondronikola M¹, Qi N², Gunawardana SC³, Stromsdorfer KL¹, Porter LC¹, Wozniak DF^4,5, Sasaki Y⁶, Rensing N⁷, Wong M⁷, Piston DW³, Klein S^1,3, Yoshino J^8,9.

Author information

1 Center for Human Nutrition, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.

2 Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

3 Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.

4 Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.

5 Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.

6 Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.

7 Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.

8 Center for Human Nutrition, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110; jyoshino@wustl.edu.

9 Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.

Abstract

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) is a critical coenzyme for cellular energy metabolism. The aim of the present study was to determine the importance of brown and white adipose tissue (BAT and WAT) NAD⁺ metabolism in regulating whole-body thermogenesis and energy metabolism. Accordingly, we generated and analyzed adipocyte-specific nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) knockout (ANKO) and brown adipocyte-specific Nampt knockout (BANKO) mice because NAMPT is the rate-limiting NAD⁺ biosynthetic enzyme. We found ANKO mice, which lack NAMPT in both BAT and WAT, had impaired gene programs involved in thermogenesis and mitochondrial function in BAT and a blunted thermogenic (rectal temperature, BAT temperature, and whole-body oxygen consumption) response to acute cold exposure, prolonged fasting, and administration of β-adrenergic agonists (norepinephrine and CL-316243). In addition, the absence of NAMPT in WAT markedly reduced adrenergic-mediated lipolytic activity, likely through inactivation of the NAD⁺-SIRT1-caveolin-1 axis, which limits an important fuel source fatty acid for BAT thermogenesis. These metabolic abnormalities were rescued by treatment with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which bypasses the block in NAD⁺ synthesis induced by NAMPT deficiency. Although BANKO mice, which lack NAMPT in BAT only, had BAT cellular alterations similar to the ANKO mice, BANKO mice had normal thermogenic and lipolytic responses. We also found NAMPT expression in supraclavicular adipose tissue (where human BAT is localized) obtained from human subjects increased during cold exposure, suggesting our finding in rodents could apply to people. These results demonstrate that adipose NAMPT-mediated NAD⁺ biosynthesis is essential for regulating adaptive thermogenesis, lipolysis, and whole-body energy metabolism.

KEYWORDS:

NAD; adipose tissue; energy metabolism; lipolysis; thermogenesis

PMID: 31694884

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1909917116

[Iporuru]

A new item to be added to the long list of factors associated with increased brown/beige adipose tissue and/or thermogenesis:

Dietary alpha‐ketoglutarate promotes beige adipogenesis and prevents obesity in middle‐aged mice

Abstract

Aging usually involves the progressive development of certain illnesses, including diabetes and obesity. Due to incapacity to form new white adipocytes, adipose expansion in aged mice primarily depends on adipocyte hypertrophy, which induces metabolic dysfunction. On the other hand, brown adipose tissue burns fatty acids, preventing ectopic lipid accumulation and metabolic diseases. However, the capacity of brown/beige adipogenesis declines inevitably during the aging process. Previously, we reported that DNA demethylation in the Prdm16 promoter is required for beige adipogenesis. DNA methylation is mediated by ten–eleven family proteins (TET) using alpha‐ketoglutarate (AKG) as a cofactor. Here, we demonstrated that the circulatory AKG concentration was reduced in middle‐aged mice (10‐month‐old) compared with young mice (2‐month‐old). Through AKG administration replenishing the AKG pool, aged mice were associated with the lower body weight gain and fat mass, and improved glucose tolerance after challenged with high‐fat diet (HFD). These metabolic changes are accompanied by increased expression of brown adipose genes and proteins in inguinal adipose tissue. Cold‐induced brown/beige adipogenesis was impeded in HFD mice, whereas AKG rescued the impairment of beige adipocyte functionality in middle‐aged mice. Besides, AKG administration up‐regulated Prdm16 expression, which was correlated with an increase of DNA demethylation in the Prdm16 promoter. In summary, AKG supplementation promotes beige adipogenesis and alleviates HFD‐induced obesity in middle‐aged mice, which is associated with enhanced DNA demethylation of the Prdm16 gene.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Open Access

 

Qiyu Tian, Junxing Zhao, Qiyuan Yang, Bo Wang, Jeanene M. Deavila, Mei-Jun Zhu, Min Du

First published: 06 November 2019

https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13059

 

And an earlier paper:

 

 

Cell Metab. 2016 Oct 11;24(4):542-554. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.08.010. Epub 2016 Sep 15.

AMPK/α-Ketoglutarate Axis Dynamically Mediates DNA Demethylation in the Prdm16 Promoter and Brown Adipogenesis.

Yang Q¹, Liang X¹, Sun X², Zhang L³, Fu X¹, Rogers CJ¹, Berim A⁴, Zhang S², Wang S¹, Wang B¹, Foretz M⁵, Viollet B⁵, Gang DR⁴, Rodgers BD¹, Zhu MJ², Du M⁶.

Author information

1 Washington Center for Muscle Biology and Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.

2 School of Food Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.

3 Washington Center for Muscle Biology and Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.

4 Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.

5 INSERM U1016, Institut Cochin, 75014 Paris, France; CNRS UMR 8104, 75014 Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France.

6 Washington Center for Muscle Biology and Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100194, China. Electronic address: min.du@wsu.edu.

Abstract

Promoting brown adipose tissue (BAT) development is an attractive strategy for the treatment of obesity, as activated BAT dissipates energy through thermogenesis; however, the mechanisms controlling BAT formation are not fully understood. We hypothesized that as a master regulator of energy metabolism, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) may play a direct role in the process and found that AMPKα1 (PRKAA1) ablation reduced Prdm16 expression and impaired BAT development. During early brown adipogenesis, the cellular levels of α-ketoglutarate (αKG), a key metabolite required for TET-mediated DNA demethylation, were profoundly increased and required for active DNA demethylation of the Prdm16 promoter. AMPKα1 ablation reduced isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 activity and cellular αKG levels. Remarkably, postnatal AMPK activation with AICAR or metformin rescued obesity-induced suppression of brown adipogenesis and thermogenesis. In summary, AMPK is essential for the epigenetic control of BAT development through αKG, thus linking a metabolite to progenitor cell differentiation and thermogenesis.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

DNA demethylation; Prkaa1; brown adipogenesis

• PMID: 27641099
• PMCID: PMC5061633
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.08.010
• [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Free PMC Article

[Sibiriak]

One more reason for Ron Put to avoid cold exposure:

How extreme environmental conditions affect the human brain

Study from the Antarctic Neumayer-Station III

https://www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/en/media/2019/12/how-extreme-environmental-conditions-affect-the-human-brain

[Todd Allen]

5 hours ago, Sibiriak said:

One more reason for Ron Put to avoid cold exposure:

Not a reason for me though, at least not yet.  The study points out other factors in play beyond cold such as extreme social isolation.  Perhaps things like limited sunshine and lack of fresh food might also be relevant.  Even if it is just the cold there is a significant difference between living in the Antarctic year round versus keeping the thermostat at home low and going outside for brief periods under dressed for the weather.

 

[Ron Put]

Thanks for the study, Sibiriak. Interesting.

As to "living in the Antarctic year round versus keeping the thermostat at home low," my guess is that their cold exposure, even in the Antarctic, was less significant than wearing a cold vest for hours each day. What is the surface temperature of the cold vest?

“Given the small number of participants, the results of our study should be viewed with caution,” explains Alexander Stahn, adding: “They do, however, provide important information, namely – and this is supported by initial findings in mice – that extreme environmental conditions can have an adverse effect on the brain and, in particular, the production of new nerve cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.”

[mccoy]

Maybe it's global warming but this year I'm having a real hard time at feeling cold, temperatures being very mild so far... I wonder if Siberia is still cold or is it warming up as well?

[Sibiriak]

Siberia is still pretty cold.   There's probably been some  slight warming over the  last decades, and substantial future warming is predicted.

Climate Change-- Russia

https://www.climatechangepost.com/russia/climate-change/

Climate change could make frozen Siberia habitable within decades

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change-crisis-siberia-habitable-russia-permafrost-melting-global-warming-a8946821.html

 

 

[Ron Put]

For someone born today, buying a large swath of land in Siberia may be better than a bond, at less than US$10 per acre.

Flip it to a Chinese housing development in a decade or two :D

[Gordo]

On 12/6/2019 at 5:17 AM, Sibiriak said:

One more reason for Ron Put to avoid cold exposure:

How extreme environmental conditions affect the human brain

Study from the Antarctic Neumayer-Station III

https://www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/en/media/2019/12/how-extreme-environmental-conditions-affect-the-human-brain

Yea, not sure mild cold exposure has any direct impact on BDNF/brain health, but there are some interesting potential new ways to boost BDNF/neurogenesis/brain health, see this recent patent

Edited December 13, 2019 by Gordo

[Sibiriak]

On 12/10/2019 at 4:03 AM, mccoy said:

Maybe it's global warming...

 

Record high temperatures cast gloom over festive season in Moscow

Quote

Russia's capital has seen record high temperatures in December with snow not predicted until the end of the month. Moscow hit 6.2 degrees Celsius (43.2 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, the warmest recorded temperature for that date.

The city is often blanketed with snow in December, but unseasonably warm temperatures have cast a gloomy pall over the streets decorated with festive lights for the New Year holiday.

 

 

Moscow resorts to fake snow in warmest December since 1886

Quote

The abnormally warm temperatures come as concern grows about the effect of global climate change on Russia. Permafrost under the country’s northern towns is slowly melting, and receding Arctic ice is driving hungry polar bears to forage in urban areas.

But  in Krasnoyarsk--Прогноз погоды  28  декабря суббота  ночь – утро   -33° ощущается как -38°  день – вечер -29° ощущается как -29°

 

[mccoy]

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Sibiriak said:

 

Moscow resorts to fake snow in warmest December since 1886

But  in Krasnoyarsk--Прогноз погоды  28  декабря суббота  ночь – утро   -33° ощущается как -38°  день – вечер -29° ощущается как -29°

 

It's good to know that Siberia is still holding up!

[Sibiriak]

Going off topic (perhaps this should be in the "purpose of life" thread):   the Russian national figure skating championship was just held in Krasnoyarsk,  and  this 15 year old girl,  Anna Shcherbakova was just amazing.  The beauty! The perfection!   "Shcherbakova flawlessly nailed a quadruple lutz-quadruple toe-loop combination before adding a single quad lutz and a quad flip triggering standing ovation from the crowd."    Check out what she does with her dress at 2:23.  Very cool!

 

 

Edited December 30, 2019 by Sibiriak