Researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine (USA) have discovered a new way to combat obesity. It turns out that inhibition of the HDAC11 enzyme causes fat cells to break down and produce energy. In this respect reports EurekAlert.
There are different types of fatty tissue. White fat is found under the skin, around organs. When we regularly consume more calories than we expend, the excess calories are stored as white fat and cause us to gain excess weight. Its main function is to store energy during periods of hunger. Humans and other mammals also have brown fat, a specialized form of tissue that is important for adaptive thermogenesis. Unlike white fat, brown fat is metabolically active tissue that burns glucose and turns it into fuel for the body.
Scientists have found that reducing the activity of the HDAC11 protein changes the phenotype of adipose tissue. This means that white fat acquires the properties of brown fat – it begins to be burned by the body to maintain body temperature. Researchers have already conducted an experiment using mice. The results showed that inhibition of HDAC11 indeed confers metabolically active tissue properties to white fat, which contributes to the weight loss process.
Researchers plan to continue studying HDAC11 to develop innovative approaches to treat obesity in humans.
Previous scientists was created A drug that can replace fitness.