Bartelt, AlexanderJohn, ClaraSchaltenberg, NicolaBerbée, Jimmy F. P.Worthmann, AnnaCherradi, M. LisaSchlein, ChristianPiepenburg, JuliaBoon, Mariëtte R.Rinninger, FranzHeine, MarkusToedter, KlausNiemeier, AndreasNilsson, Stefan K.Fischer, MarkusWijers, Sander L.van Marken Lichtenbelt, WouterScheja, LudgerRensen, Patrick C. N.Heeren, Joerg2017-06-152017Bartelt, A., C. John, N. Schaltenberg, J. F. P. Berbée, A. Worthmann, M. L. Cherradi, C. Schlein, et al. 2017. “Thermogenic adipocytes promote HDL turnover and reverse cholesterol transport.” Nature Communications 8 (1): 15010. doi:10.1038/ncomms15010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15010.http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:33029942Brown and beige adipocytes combust nutrients for thermogenesis and through their metabolic activity decrease pro-atherogenic remnant lipoproteins in hyperlipidemic mice. However, whether the activation of thermogenic adipocytes affects the metabolism and anti-atherogenic properties of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) is unknown. Here, we report a reduction in atherosclerosis in response to pharmacological stimulation of thermogenesis linked to increased HDL levels in APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice. Both cold-induced and pharmacological thermogenic activation enhances HDL remodelling, which is associated with specific lipidomic changes in mouse and human HDL. Furthermore, thermogenic stimulation promotes HDL-cholesterol clearance and increases macrophage-to-faeces reverse cholesterol transport in mice. Mechanistically, we show that intravascular lipolysis by adipocyte lipoprotein lipase and hepatic uptake of HDL by scavenger receptor B-I are the driving forces of HDL-cholesterol disposal in liver. Our findings corroborate the notion that high metabolic activity of thermogenic adipocytes confers atheroprotective properties via increased systemic cholesterol flux through the HDL compartment.en-USJournal Article2017-06-1510.1038/ncomms15010