Know how proteins stimulate the growth of blood vessels

Washington D.C .: According to a new study, the inhibition of a protein in the blood vessels can stimulate their growth, which allows for a healthier adipose tissue and a lower blood sugar.

A research conducted at York University has helped to better understand the improvement of blood vessel growth and know how to alleviate serious health problems related to obesity, such as diabetes.

The results of the study are published in the journal ELife.

The researchers studied a process of the vascular system called angiogenesis and determined whether the inhibition of FoxO1 protein would stimulate fat adipose.

Angiogenesis is the formation of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. It helps maintain normal healthy functions in tissues, especially when they get bigger. However, when the tissue expands while it stores excess fat, angiogenesis is repressed and the new capillaries fail to grow. This leads to the formation of unhealthy adipose tissue, which increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease

The team inhibited the production of FoxO1 protein and monitored the behavior of capillary endothelial cells and the resulting influences of these changes on adipose tissue expansion.

The study found that reducing FoxO1 levels promoted angiogenesis and resulted in healthier adipose tissue, especially with a high fat diet. The decline in FoxO1 endothelial cell levels also resulted in an increase in glucose utilization and less weight loss despite the consumption of a high fat diet.

"While we thought that improving angiogenesis in adipose tissue would improve adipose tissue health, we were surprised to find that altering the levels of a particular protein, FoxO, in endothelial cells exerted such a broad influence on blood sugar and weight gain throughout the body.we propose the new concept that the activity of endothelial cells can alter the energy balance of the whole body ", a said researcher Tara Haas.

The researchers showed that the elimination of FoxO1 made the endothelial cells "overactive" and that this allowed the formation of many new blood vessels in adipose tissue. At the same time, these blood vessels consume a lot of energy, which can actually alleviate the common health problems that accompany obesity, such as high blood glucose levels and circulating fat, risk factors diabetes and cardiovascular disease.