Cold-induced blood vessels could help obese burn more fat
7 January 2009
Mice exposed to low temperatures develop more blood vessels in their
adipose tissue and metabolise body fat more quickly, according to a new
study from Karolinska Institutet [1]. Scientists now hope to learn how
to control blood vessel development in humans in order to combat obesity
and diabetes.
The growth of fat cells and their metabolism depend on oxygen and
blood-borne nutrients. A possible way to regulate the amount of body fat
— in order, for instance, to combat obesity — can therefore be to affect
the development of blood vessels in the adipose tissue.
A team of researchers at Karolinska Institutet have now demonstrated
the rapid development of blood vessels in the adipose tissue of mice
exposed to low temperatures. This is followed in its turn by a
transformation of the adipose tissue from 'white' fat to 'brown' fat,
which has higher metabolic activity and which breaks down more quickly.
"This is the first time it's been shown that blood vessel growth
affects the metabolic activity of adipose tissue rather than vice
versa," says Professor Yihai Cao, who led the study. "If we can learn
how to regulate the development of blood vessels in humans, we'd open up
new therapeutic avenues for obesity and metabolic diseases like
diabetes."
Brown fat releases heat when it breaks down, and is mainly found in
hibernating animals. In humans, it is found in newborn babies, but
scientists believe by controlling blood vessel development that it might
be possible to transform white fat to brown fat in adults as well.
Reference
1. Yuan Xue, Natasa Petrovic, Renhai Cao, Ola Larsson, Sharon Lim,
Shaohua Chen, Helena M Feldmann, Zicai Liang, Zhengping Zhu, Jan
Nedergaard, Barbara Cannon, Yihai Cao. Cold triggers VEGF-dependent but
hypoxia-independent angiogenesis in adipose tissues and anti-VEGF agents
modulate adipose tissue metabolism. Cell Metabolism, 6 January
2009.
Bookmark this page