A study revealed differences in some cells that make up the fatty tissues in people who are obese and have good health and others who suffer from obesity and metabolic diseases. The researchers created a detailed atlas that explain how obesity affects cells.
The study was conducted by researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and the University of Leipzig. The study was published recently in the magazine Cell metabolism, and was written by Yurrick Alert.
The spread of obesity in the world is usually aggravated by diseases and complications associated with it, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, but it is not necessary that they all develop these diseases. This has always been confusing to scientists, a quarter of people with obesity are healthy.
Search samples from a vital bank
In this study, researchers used samples of the “obesity bank” in Leipzig, which is a wide range of biopstures taken by obese people. Scientists from Leipzig University have collected these samples from obese patients who underwent optional surgery and agreed to collect samples for their fatty tissues for research purposes. The group also includes comprehensive medical information about the health condition of patients.
Given that tissue samples were collected from people with obesity without being bound by their health condition, they allow comparison between people with obesity with diseases and those with diseases. The researchers at the institute examined the samples of 70 volunteers, in which they studied active genes and the extent of their activity on each cell for two types of fatty tissues: subcutaneous fat and visceral fat that surrounds the internal organs in the body.
Scientists believe that the visceral fat, which is deep in the abdominal cavity and accumulates around the internal organs, is mainly responsible for the infection of metabolic diseases. In contrast, experts believe that the fats are directly under the skin are less harmful.
Changes in the fat surrounding the abdomen
The researchers found that there are major functional changes in the cells of the visceral tissue in people with metabolic diseases. These changes affect almost all cells in this type of tissue. For example, genetic analyzes have shown that fat cells in obese people and have diseases are no longer able to burn fat effectively, and instead secrete more amounts of naturally immunological molecules, such as cytokines, which are organized proteins that are organized proteins. The nature of immune responses is determined.
The researchers also found very clear differences in the number and function of cells called medium epithelial, as the percentage of medium epithelial cells in the visceral fat is much higher in people who suffer from obesity and do not have metabolic diseases compared to the injured. These cells appear high functional flexibility. Specifically, these cells can turn into a type of stem cell and thus turn into different types of cells.