The discovery of fat cells could help fight health problems related to obesity

The researchers found differences in fat cells that could potentially identify people prone to metabolic diseases such as diabetes and fatty liver.

The first global discovery also identified "fast-burning" fat cells that, if unlocked, could help people lose weight.

About 70% of Australians are overweight or obese, which has been associated with the risk of metabolic disease. Research conducted by the University of Melbourne, Australia, showed that a person's risk level could depend on the type of fat that he stored.

Posted in Cell reports, the study took samples from human volunteers and discovered three specific subtypes of precursor cells that became fat cells.

The first releases a lot of fat in the blood, the second burns a lot of energy and the third is "rather benign" and does what a fat cell has to do normally, but slowly.

All three cell subtypes were present in adipose tissue throughout the body and were not confined to any particular part. All were present in all the fat samples. Some people had more cell subtypes and fewer others.

The lead author, Matthew Watt, head of physiology at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Melbourne, said the findings indicated that the composition of these cells in a person's body might help to determine his state of health.

Professor Watt said that the first subtype could increase the risk of fat deposits around the body and on the organs, whether they are overweight or not, while the latter could possibly prevent weight gain. The third was neutral.

While it's still early, he said further research could potentially determine ways to "extinguish" the cells that release fat and "activate" the cells that burn the fat. This would involve the development of pharmacotherapies and could take at least 10 years.

Professor Watt said that if they were developed, such treatments could help prevent some diseases and be less invasive than bariatric surgery. But they should also involve lifestyle changes.

"While we advocate new discoveries to inform the development of anti-obesity therapies, a healthy lifestyle, including daily activities and a reduction in food intake, is also important," he said. declared.

Professor Watt's team has separated different types of cells, studied their genes and evaluated their proteins and their metabolism. They discovered three subtypes of fat cells, also called adipocyte progenitor cells (APCs).

"The discovery is important because it tells us that not all fat cells are identical and that by understanding the subtypes of fat in humans, we will be able to predict their future metabolic health," he said. Professor Watt.

Although the results indicate that some cell subtypes could increase the risk of metabolic disease, Professor Watt said that a clinical trial was now needed to accurately answer this question. At this point, it was not practical to regularly test the fat composition.

"This requires very detailed and expensive tests," says Professor Watt. "Until we show a link between some fat cells and some health traits, it will not be a useful test.

"We must first determine if the number of fat cell subtypes affects the development of the disease, and then we can find ways to decrease or increase some type of fat cells to improve health. but again, that will require new experiences. "