Supraclavicular Skin Temperature as a Measure of .sup.18F-FDG Uptake by BAT in Human Subjects

• Published in: PloS one 2014-06, Vol.9 (6)
• Main Authors: Boon, Mariëtte R, Bakker, Leontine E. H, van der Linden, Rianne A. D, Pereira Arias-Bouda, Lenka, Smit, Frits, Verberne, Hein J, van Marken Lichtenbelt, Wouter D, Jazet, Ingrid M, Rensen, Patrick C. N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Obesity; Skin
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098822

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has emerged as a novel player in energy homeostasis in humans and is considered a potential new target for combating obesity and related diseases. The current 'gold standard' for quantification of BAT volume and activity is cold-induced .sup.18 F-FDG uptake in BAT. However, use of this technique is limited by cost and radiation exposure. Given the fact that BAT is a thermogenic tissue, mainly located in the supraclavicular region, the aim of the current study was to investigate whether cold-induced supraclavicular skin temperature and core body temperature may be alternative markers of BAT activation in humans. Proximal and distal (hand/feet) skin temperatures markedly decreased upon cold exposure, while supraclavicular skin temperature significantly increased (35.2±0.1 vs. 35.5±0.1°C, p = 0.001). Furthermore, cold-induced supraclavicular skin temperature positively correlated with both total (R.sup.2 = 0.28, P = 0.010) and clavicular BAT volume (R.sup.2 = 0.20, P = 0.030) and clavicular SUV.sub.max (R.sup.2 = 0.27, P = 0.010), while core body temperature did not. Supraclavicular skin temperature as measured by iButtons may have predictive value for BAT detection in adult humans. This is highly desirable considering the increasing interest in pharmacological interventions to stimulate BAT in human subjects.