system function and metabolic regulation. Researchers from the University of Michigan have recently discovered a new type of cell in human omental adipose tissue that has the ability to inhibit the formation of fat cells. This finding sheds light on why individuals with an ”apple” body shape, characterized by excess fat around the abdomen, may face higher risks for metabolic health issues.
The discovery of these cells is important for understanding the complexities of fat tissue and how it impacts overall health. The researchers believe that further study of these cells and their functions could potentially lead to new strategies for addressing obesity and related metabolic diseases. This could ultimately improve outcomes for individuals with these conditions.
have conducted a study to investigate the regulation of adipogenesis and tissue regeneration.
When omental adipose tissue expands significantly, it is associated with the ”apple” body shape and increases the risk for metabolic diseases. This expansion occurs mainly through the enlargement of existing cells (hypertrophy) rather than the formation of new fat cells (adipogenesis), which can result in chronic inflammation and insulin resistance.
Despite calorie excess, omental fat has limited capacity to form new fat cells, unlike subcutaneous fat. This difference remains poorly understood. Professor Bart Deplanck and his team of scientists have now conducted a study to address this issue.Researchers at EPFL have found a group of cells in human omental adipose tissue that inhibits adipogenesis. This discovery, which was reported in Cell Metabolism, offers a new perspective on the limited capacity of omental fat for adipogenesis and has important implications for managing obesity.
The scientists used advanced single-cell RNA sequencing to examine cells from various human fat depots, separating different subpopulations of cells and testing their ability to undergo adipogenesis. The study, which was backed by several medical institutions including the CHUV, included over thirty human donors to carry out a thorough comparison.The study revealed that there are distinct types of fat deposits in different locations. It also found a group of cells in the omental adipose tissue that could be the explanation for its unique properties. These cells, known as mesothelial cells, typically form a protective layer in certain body cavities. Some of these mesothelial cells surprisingly transformed into mesenchymal cells, which have the ability to develop into various types of cells, including fat cells. This transition between cellular states may play a crucial role in how these cells affect the omental adipose tissue’s ability to produce fat.The research discovered that these cells have mesenchymal-like properties that give them an improved ability to control their microenvironment. This enables them to regulate the expansion of adipose tissue. By transitioning between these two states, the cells can potentially impact the metabolic behavior of the omental fat depot, affecting its ability to store fat without causing metabolic issues. Radiana Ferrero (EPFL), one of the main authors of the study, stated, “Importantly, we also identified at least a portion of the molecular mechanism through which this new omental cell population influences adipogenesis.”Specifically, the cells have high levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 [IGFBP2], a protein that inhibits adipogenesis and is secreted in the cells’ microenvironment. This ultimately affects specific receptors on nearby adipose stem and progenitor cells, effectively stopping them from developing into mature fat cells.”
“These findings have significant implications for understanding and potentially managing metabolically unhealthy obesity,” says Pernille Rainer (EPFL), another lead researcher on the study. “Knowing that omental fat has a built-in mechanism to limit fat cell formation could lead to new treatments.The study found that it is possible to modulate the natural process of fat storage. Additionally, the research suggests that there could be targeted therapies to control the behavior of specific fat depots.
