A study investigated the role of beige fat in blood pressure regulation using mice with adipocyte-specific ablation of the Prdm16 gene, which resulted in the loss of beige adipocyte identity.[1][2] These mice showed dramatic remodeling of perivascular adipose tissue, increased vascular reactivity, and elevated blood pressure.[1][2] Excess body fat is a risk factor for hypertension, while brown fat protects against cardiovascular disease.[1][2] Circulating enzyme Qsox1 was derepressed in Prdm16-deficient adipocytes.[1][2] Ablation of Qsox1 in PRDM16cKO mice rescued vascular fibrosis and reactivity.[1][2] The results show the key role of beige adipocytes in the regulation of blood pressure and Qsox1 as a mediator of adipocyte-vascular communication.[1][2] Observations were also made in people with mutations in PRDM16 who had higher blood pressure.[6]