Dr. Daniel Tews

Dr. Daniel Tews is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (Head: Prof. Dr. Martin Wabitsch). His major focus is to understand the function and development of brown adipose tissue in children and adults.

Adipose tissue can be assigned to two clearly distinct subtypes, mainly based on its functional properties. White adipose tissue (WAT) is the major organ for energy storage, whereas brown adipose tissue (BAT) utilizes energy sources such as fatty acids and glucose to produce heat in a process called non-shivering thermogenesis. In contrast to earlier observations, it is now well accepted that BAT in humans is functionally active not only in neonates, but also in adults. Clinical studies have shown that BAT activity is negatively associated with body weight. In addition, activation of BAT results in an amelioration of body insulin sensitivity.

Interestingly, brown-like adipocytes can emerge in white adipose tissue depots upon chronic cold exposure or beta-adrenergic treatment, a process usually termed “browning” or “britening”. As a matter of debate, these adipocytes can either differentiate de novo from a distinct precursor pool or convert from preexisting white adipocytes.

We are currently interested in transcription factors and secreted proteins that drive brown adipogenesis in humans.