Macrophages to Play a Vital Role in Regulating Obesity, Study Suggests

Jan, 2021 - By SMI

According to a new research study initiated by the researchers of Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) have reported that immune cells ‘Macrophages’ have shown its potential in regulating obesity and further can aid in developing novel new treatments for obese and overweight, and associated pathologies such as type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease.

Dr. Enríquez stated, “In recent decades, several studies have verified that fatty tissue macrophages facilitate an anti-inflammatory and reparative environment in normal conditions. This contributes to deactivating any processes altering the normal functioning of these tissues. These are known as anti-inflammatory or 'type M2' macrophages. The M2 macrophages interpret that there are stress signals, normally arising in response to infection, and they foster inflammation as a defense mechanism.”

The current research study assessed how metabolic changes in macrophage regulate this inflammatory process that causes obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Researchers also revealed how the detection of reactive oxygen species by macrophages leads to mitochondrial metabolism changes of these immune cells that is required to differentiate them from an M1 proinflammatory type."

Moreover researchers have found previously that the Fgr protein is vital in regulating one of the complexes of the transport chain of mitochondrial electrons. However the research study proves that, lack of Fgr protein causes liver to propel its capability to exclude fat by generating ketone bodies (chemical compounds produced by ketogenesis), which are further discarded in the urine, which further improves the alterations of obesity to the glucose metabolism (type 2 diabetes).

Furthermore, researchers suggested that these findings indicate to utilize specific potential Fgr protein inhibitors in the treatment of obese and/or metabolic syndrome patients.