Scientists have identified a protein which regulates the activationof brown fat in both the brain and the body's tissues. Theirresearch, which was conducted in mice, was published in the journal Cell. Unlike white fat, which functions primarily to store up fat, brownfat (also known as brown adipose tissue) burns fats to generateheat in a process known as thermogenesis. The research, led byscientists at the University of Cambridge Metabolic ResearchLaboratories at the Institute of Metabolic Science, discovered thatthe protein BMP8B acts on a specific metabolic system (whichoperates in the brain and the tissues) to regulate brown fat,making it a potential therapeutic target. The scientists believe that activating brown fat could help tosupport current weight loss programmes, which individuals oftenstruggle to maintain. Dr Andrew Whittle, one of the authors of the paper from theInstitute of Metabolic Science, said: "Other proteins made by thebody can enhance heat production in brown fat, such as thyroidhormone but often these proteins have important effects in otherorgans too. Therefore they are not good targets for developing newweight loss treatments. However, BMP8B seems to be very specificfor regulating the heat producing activity of brown fat, making ita more ideal mechanism for new therapies." The experiments showed that when mice lacked the protein BMP8B theyfound it more difficult to maintain their normal body temperature.They also became much more obese than normal mice, particularlywhen fed a high-fat diet. Additionally, when the researcherstreated brown fat cells with BMP8B they responded more strongly toactivation by the nervous system. Furthermore, when BMP8B wasadministered to specific parts of the brain it increased the amountof nervous activation of brown adipose tissue. The result was thatthese BMP8B-treated brown fat cells burned more fat and mice givenBMP8B in the brain lost weight. Professor Toni Vidal-Puig, lead author of the study from theInstitute of Metabolic Science and a member of the MRC Centre forObesity and Related Metabolic Diseases, said: "A major feature ofcurrent weight-loss strategies is that people lose a lot of weightearly on, but then reach a plateau despite continuing to follow thesame diet regime. This is because the human body is incredibly goodat sensing a reduction in food consumption and slows the metabolicrate to compensate. A strategy to increase brown fat activity couldpotentially be used in conjunction with current weight lossstrategies to help prevent the typical decrease in a person'smetabolic rate. "One could be sceptical that techniques to increase metabolic ratemight just be compensated by the body trying to make you want toeat more, to fuel this increased metabolism. But our findingsshowed that treating mice with Bmp8b did not have this effect, itsimply made them lose weight by burning more fat in their brownadipose tissue. "There are obvious differences between mice and humans, and from atherapeutic perspective this work is preliminary. Validation willbe necessary to see if manipulating BMP8B would be safe andeffective in humans." Additional References Citations. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Urethane Belt Welder Manufacturer , Polyurethane Tubing Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Polyurethane V Belt.
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