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Study identifies new factor that offers potential strategy for treating obesity

November 17, 2020

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Obesity is a serious global health problem and a risk factor for diseases such as type II diabetes, heart disease and fatty liver disease. A central element in the development of obesity is adipose tissue, which comprises fat cells (so-called adipocytes, specialized to store fat) and macrophages (immune system scavenger cells, which are typically associated with the destruction of microbes).

Together with researchers from Poland, Germany, Australia and Austria, a team of MedUni Vienna scientists has now discovered the signaling pathways responsible for the development of a valuable type of adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) in obesity, which prevents lipotoxicity. Lipotoxicity is the process whereby fat molecules are deposited in non-adipose tissues. This study has now been published in the top journal Nature Metabolism.

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