Figure 7. Mechanism by which TRPV1 activation enhances metabolism and energy expenditure in BAT.
CAP activates TRPV1 expressed on the brown adipose tissue (BAT) cell membrane to stimulate a Ca2+ influx, which activates CAMKII. This activates AMPK phosphorylation and the subsequent phosphorylation and activation of SIRT-1, which deacetylates PPARγ and PRDM-16 and facilitates their stabilization and interaction. Also, SIRT-1 activates PGC-1α, which transcriptionally activates PPARα and subsequently UCP-1. Activation of TRPV1 also enhances BMP8b. All these enhance metabolism, energy expenditure and thermogenesis to counter HFD-induced obesity.