40% of Americans are obese, placing them at an increased risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart disease and certain cancers, according to CDC. New research from the University of Delaware aims to tackle the problem by investigating obesity at a gene level.
The main researcher Ibra Fancher, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology at the UD Health Sciences College, discovered significant differences in the expression of genes in adipose tissue, better known as fat. In the past it is considered fat storage, adipose tissue is now recognized as a vital endocrine organ. Dysfunction in the tissue is associated with important cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
In the study published in Genomic genomicFancher and partners examined how diet affects gene expression in adipose tissue using a animal model. One group consumed a diet similar to a typical high -fat diet diet, while the other ate a typical chokas for over a year.
We look forward to seeing strong fat changes and indeed the adipose warehouses in the high fat group were very different, showing significant changes related to malnutrition and obesity. “
Ibra Fancher, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, UD Health Sciences College
Basic findings
The study, funded by a Federal National Institute of Health at the Cultural Research Center for Excellence (COBRE) in cardiovascular health, has been found that more than 300 genes were differentiated in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), a less dangerous form of fat. Compared, about 700 genes were expressed differently in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Slastic fat, or fat around the vital organs, increases the risk of a person on important health issues.
“Comparison of VAT with SAT is intense. Expanding visceral fat, along with its inflammatory role in obesity and metabolic diseases, is particularly serious,” Fancher said. “This study underlines the impact of obesity, which often results from a poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle, on specific adipose tissues, which is very likely to be an important factor that affects health.”
Among the thousands of genes analyzed, Fancher’s research identified four metabolism -related genes, calcium handling and inflammation that justify further investigation.
“We are already trying to see if these genes deserve the aspirations to improve adipose tissue in obesity,” Fancher said. “They could possibly target existing medicines or create new treatments specially designed to influence these genes.”
An innovative approach
Fancher worked with Bruce Kingham, director of the UD sequence and genotype center at the Biotechnology Delaware Institute and Shawn Polson, Director of Biopathic Data Science Core at the Biomofator Center Information at Engineering College.
“Our basic facilities provide access to advanced technologies and expertise on RNA sequence and bioinformatics that allow UD researchers to do this type of research,” Polson said. “In this project, when we analyzed the data, he clearly showed us very clearly in genes and trails related to obesity that vary between VAT and Sat.”
From left to right, Shawn Polson, Director of BioinFormatics Data Science Core at the Biopathic and Computer Biology Center and Delaware inbre, as well as a research professor at the Department of Computer Services and Information of the College of Engineering. Ibra Fancher, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology. Mark Shaw, a research associate at the UD sequence and genotype center at the Biotechnology Delaware Institute, collaborated on this research.
Malak Alradi, a third -year doctoral student studying molecular biology and genetics, played a key role in organizing genes on paths to better understand their biological importance.
“Before I started this research. I thought fat was the same in the body, but when I saw the RNA sequence and studied different genes and trails, I realized that VAT was influenced by obesity much more than Sat,” Alradi said . “Our approach shows how interconnected these processes are and why the targeting of specific paths could make the difference in the treatment of obesity.”
Strict statistical methods have also confirmed the basic findings on adipose warehouses, including changes in metabolism and inflammation.
“This makes us feel very good about the genes we found,” Fancher said. “He underlines the innovation of our findings.”
Subsequent steps
Fancher now plans to study gene expression in human adipose tissue. In collaboration with Dr. Caitlin Halbert, director of bariatric surgery in Christianacare, Fancher aims to determine whether the previous findings apply to human samples.
He also noted the opportunity for gender differences.
“Obesity affects the sex very differently, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we found sex differences,” Fancher said. “Recognizing these differences is vital to adapting the most personalized and targeted interventions.”
Source:
Magazine report:
Alradi, M., et al. (2024). A long -term fat diet causes changes in differential gene expression in spatial distinct adipose tissue of male mice. Genomic genomic. Doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00080.2024.
