They manage to control obesity and type 2 diabetes in mice

In a single injection, scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona have succeeded in continuously producing FGF21, a hormone that acts in many tissues to regulate energy functioning

. ]. mice reduce their weight and also the insulin resistance of type 2 diabetes.

The therapy applied in the specific case of obesity has been successfully tested in two models of the disease, induced both genetically and by diet.

With him, specialists have observed that the administration of gene therapy in healthy individuals leads to healthier aging and protects against overweight, as well as the insulin resistance badociated with aging.

After a year and a half treatment, the mice reduced the accumulation of fat and inflammation in adipose tissue.

They also countered fat deposition, swelling and fibrosis in the liver, while increasing insulin sensitivity and overall health at aging, with no side effects.

The results were then reproduced by genetic manipulation of various tissues such as adipose tissue and muscle. or the liver, to produce FGF21 protein.

The above makes the therapy more flexible because it allows to select the most appropriate tissue and even to use one of the other in case of complications, says Professor Fátima Bosch.

The specialist also points out that obesity increases the risk of mortality and represents a concern for cardiovascular and immune diseases, as well as hypertension, arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases and some types of cancer

. the results show the protective effect of the administration of gene therapy against water is the case of tumor formation, when the liver is subjected to a high calorie diet during a long time, concluded Bosch.

ocs / lrc