Unique subpopulations of fat cells have been identified for the first time, new evidence has re-vealed.
Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have found that these fat cells have more “complex, interesting, and surprising” predicted functions than previously known.
During the study, the team of academics used advanced technology to analyse the populations of fat cells in different fat tissues in the human body. They identified RNA molecules, which are responsible for changing the genome into proteins.
With technology, scientists can detect cells containing similar subsets of RNA molecules be-cause they can simultaneously barcode cells comprising the tissue.
The technology allows researchers to identify known types of cells comprising the tissue, such as immune system cells, fat cells and blood vessel cells.
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Adipose tissue performs many functions in the body, including storing and releasing energy, insulating the body, and regulating hunger.
Otherwise known body fat, adipose tissue produces and secretes proteins and other substances into the bloodstream, including the leptin hormone – a central regulator of appetite, eating, and the rate of energy expenditure.
Fat tissues around the internal organs, under the skin or inside the abdominal cavity operate differently.
Lead author Professor Esti Yeger-Lotem said: “The diversity of fat cells in the different fat tissues in humans is more complex, interesting, and surprising than we previously though.
“For example, in addition to the ‘classical’ fat (adipocyte) cells, we found subpopulations of adi-pocytes, characterised here for the first time, they express RNA molecules indicating unique functions, such as regulation of inflammatory processes, blood vessel formation, extracellular protein deposition, and scarring (fibrosis).”
Professor Yeger-Lotem added: “After we found them computationally, we were also able to see them under the microscope.
“We initially thought that these unique cells were created from the classical cells by ‘adopting’ additional, unique functions, but we discovered that the differentiation pathway is actually the opposite: the unique fat cells seem to ‘lose’ their unique functions to become classical fat cells.”
The findings have shown that fat cell subpopulations were mostly similar between subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat.
A unique type of fat cells only appearing in the intra-abdominal tissue were detected for the first time in this study.
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Corresponding author Professor Assaf Rudich said: “The new insights into the cellular composi-tion and function of human fat tissues provide a basis for further applied research aimed at promoting personalised medicine in obesity.
“We found that the prevalence of the unique fat cells we identified was related to the metabolic complications of obesity: their relative proportion in the tissue is higher the more severe the insulin resistance is.”
Professor Rudich continued: “If it turns out that the prevalence of unique fat cells also predicts the degree of personal risk for future development of obesity complications, and/or can predict the individual response to treatment — the findings may have great significance in the pursuit of more personalised treatment for obesity.
“To this end, we are already working to develop tools that can bring our findings to clinical med-icine, for example, developing microscopic examinations of fat tissue and identifying unique fat cells by a clinical pathologist.”
Read more in Nature Genetics.
