Fat cells retain memory of obesity

2024/11/25 Etxebeste Aduriz, Egoitz - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna
• Medikuntza

Fat percentages keep memory of obesity through transcription changes and epigenetic changes that persist after weight loss. And that memory increases the chance of regaining weight. These conclusions have been obtained in a study published in the journal Nature.

The main objective is weight loss in cases of obesity, to improve metabolic health and prevent associated health problems, such as diabetes and hepatic steatosis. However, weight loss containment is usually a challenge, as the tendency to weight recovery is high. Now you've seen that some transcription changes that occur in the fatty tissue cells of mice and humans persist even after losing weight. These changes are related to alterations of some metabolic processes such as fatty acid synthesis and fatty cell formation, which can facilitate weight reincorporation.

These changes have been identified by the RNA sequence of 18 non-obese fatty cells, compared with the pre- and post-weight loss sequences of 20 people who have suffered from obesity. The same was true of mice, and in this case epigenetic changes have also been found, that is, changes in the way RNA DNA is copied, which regulate gene expression.

Researchers believe obsesogenic memory may be stored in other cells in the body, such as fat cells. They stress that knowing these mechanisms can help to better control weight in the long term.