Purpose of review: The current review provides an update on secreted factors and mechanisms that promote a thermogenic program in beige adipocytes, and their potential roles as therapeutic targets to fight obesity.
Recent findings: We outline recent studies revealing unrecognized mechanisms controlling beige adipocyte physiology, and summarize in particular those that underlie beige thermogenesis independently of classical uncoupling. We also update strategies aimed at fostering beige adipogenesis and white-to beige adipocyte conversion. Finally, we summarize newly identified endogenous secreted factors that promote the thermogenic activation of beige adipocytes and discuss their therapeutic potential.
Summary: The identification of novel endogenous factors that promote beiging and regulate beige adipocyte-specific physiological pathways opens up new avenues for therapeutic engineering targeting obesity and related metabolic disorders.