The thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in the organism is tightly regulated through different processes, from short-term induction of uncoupling protein-1-mediated mitochondrial proton conductance to complex processes of BAT recruitment, and appearance of the beige/brite adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT), the so-called browning process. The sympathetic nervous system is classically recognized as the main mediator of BAT activation. However, novel factors capable of activating BAT through non-sympathetic mechanisms have been recently identified. Among them are members of the bone morphogenetic protein family, with likely autocrine actions, and activators of nuclear hormone receptors, especially vitamin A derivatives. Multiple endocrine factors released by peripheral tissues that act on BAT have also been identified. Some are natriuretic peptides of cardiac origin, whereas others include irisin, originating in skeletal muscle, and fibroblast growth factor-21, mainly produced in the liver. These factors have cell-autonomous effects in brown adipocytes, but indirect effects in vivo that modulate sympathetic activity toward BAT cannot be excluded. Moreover, these factors can affect to different extents such as the activation of existing BAT, the induction of browning in WAT or both. The identification of non-sympathetic controllers of BAT activity is of special biomedical interest as a prerequisite for developing pharmacological tools that influence BAT activity without the side effects of sympathomimetics.

棕色脂肪组织（BAT）在生物体中的生热活性受到不同过程的严格调控，从短期诱导解偶联蛋白1介导的线粒体质子传导到复杂的BAT募集过程，以及米色/棕褐色脂肪细胞的出现在白色脂肪组织（WAT）中，所谓的褐变过程。交感神经系统通常被认为是BAT激活的主要介体。但是，最近发现了能够通过非交感机制激活BAT的新型因子。其中有可能具有自分泌作用的骨形态发生蛋白家族成员，以及核激素受体（尤其是维生素A衍生物）的活化剂。还已经发现了作用于BAT的周围组织释放的多种内分泌因子。一些是源自心脏的利钠肽，而其他一些则包括源自骨骼肌的虹膜素和主要在肝脏中产生的成纤维细胞生长因子-21。这些因素在褐色脂肪细胞中具有细胞自主作用，但具有间接作用体内不能调节对BAT的交感神经活动。而且，这些因素可能在不同程度上影响到现有的BAT的激活，WAT褐变的诱导或两者都有影响。识别BAT活性的非交感神经控制器具有特殊的生物医学意义，这是开发可影响BAT活性而无拟交感神经药副作用的药理学工具的先决条件。