During the development of a new research, a group of scholars of theUniversity of Bonn identified a key molecule called inosine which is capable of burning fat. “IS dying cells are known to release a mix of messenger molecules that affect the function of their neighbors“, Declared the Doctor Birte Niemann of the research group of Pfeifer. Together with his colleague, the Doctor Saskia Haufs-Brusbergplanned and conducted the study’s central experiments: “We wanted to know if this mechanism also exists in brown fat “.
Normally, fat cells store energy. In brown fat cells, however, energy is dissipated in the form of heat: the brown fat then acts as a biological heater. Most mammals therefore possess this dynamic. In humans it keeps newborns warm, in adults, brown fat activation has a positive correlation with cardio-metabolic health.
“Today, however, we are very hot even in winter “said Professor Doctor Alexander Pfeifer ofInstitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the University of Bonn: “So the furnaces of our body are hardly needed anymore. “
At the same time, we are following an increasingly energy-rich diet and also move much less than our ancestors. These three factors are poison for brown fat cells: they gradually cease to function and eventually die. On the other hand, the number of severely overweight people in the world continues to increase: “I Research groups around the world are therefore looking for substances that stimulate brown fat and thus increase fat burning“, Added Pfeifer.
The results of the Research have been published in the scientific journal Nature.
Inosine: this is how it works
The research team carefully observed the brown fat cells under severe stress, so that the cells were practically dying: “We found that they secrete purine inosine in large quantities “, Niemann said. More interesting, however, was how intact brown fat cells responded to the call for molecular help: they were activated by inosine (or simply by dying cells in their vicinity).
The inosine thus powered the furnace inside them. The white blood cells have also converted to their brown brethren. Mice fed an energy-rich diet and treated with inosine at the same time remained leaner than control animals and were protected from diabetes.
The inosine transporter appears to play an important role in this context: this protein in the cell membrane carries inosine into the cell, thus lowering the extracellular concentration. Therefore, inosine can no longer exert its combustion promoting effect.
“There is a drug that is designed for clotting disorders, but it also inhibits the inosine transporter“, Specified Pfeifer, who is also a member of the transdisciplinary research areas”Life and health” And “Sustainable future”Of the University of Bonn.
“We administered this drug to the mice and, as a result, they burned more energy “. Humans also have an inosine transporter. In 2-4% of all people it is less active due to a genetic variation: “Our colleagues from the University of Leipzig genetically analyzed 900 individuals, “Pfeifer explained:” Those with the least active transporter were on average significantly leaner “.
Research results indicate that inosine also regulates thermogenesis in human fat cells. Substances that interfere with the transporter activity could therefore potentially be suitable for the treatment of obesity. The drug already approved for bleeding disorders could serve as a starting point.
“However, further human studies are needed to elucidate the pharmacological potential of this mechanism“, Noted Pfeifer, who does not believe that one pill alone will be the solution to the rampant global obesity pandemic:”But the available therapies are not effective enough at the moment. We therefore desperately need drugs to normalize the energy balance in obese patients“, Concluded Pfeifer.
The key role played by the body heating system is also demonstrated by a major new joint research consortium: the German Research Foundation (DFG) recently approved a Transregional Collaborative Research Center in which the universities of Bonn, Hamburg and Munich conduct targeted research on brown adipose tissue.
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