Scientists have found that aging activates a new type of stem cells that generate abdominal fat, explaining why the waist often increases around medium age. Therapies are sought to prevent metabolic diseases and weight gain.
Abdominal fat increases in volume with photo age: shutterstock
It has been discovered that aging triggers the evolution of adipocyte progenitor cells (APC) in determined pre-adypocytes (CP-AS), which actively generates new fat, according to Neuroscience News.
It is no secret that people's waist often increases in middle age. The fat on the belly accelerates aging and slows metabolism, increasing the risk of developing diabetes, heart problems and other chronic diseases.
Preclinical research carried out by City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States and a peak research center for diabetes and other diseases that endanger the cellular culprit behind the abdominal fat.
Research conclusions suggest a new target for future belly prevention therapies and extending the duration of a healthy life.
“People often lose muscle and win body fat As they grow old – even when their body weight remains the same“, Declared Qion (Annabel) Wang, Ph.D., a study co -author and associate professor of molecular and cellular endocrinology at City of Hope's Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute.
“I discovered that aging triggers the arrival of a new type of adult stem cells and increases massive production of the body of new fat cells, especially around the belly ”, added the researcher.
Experiments done on mice
Scientists performed a series of experiments on mice, later validated on human cells. Wang and his colleagues focused on white adipose tissue (WAT), adipose tissue responsible for age-related weight gain.
Although it is well known that fat cells increase with old age, scientists have suspected that WAT also extends by producing new fat cells, which means they may have an unlimited growth potential.
In order to test their hypothesis, the researchers focused on the adipocyte progeny cells (APC), a group of WAT stem cells that evolve into fat cells, according to the quoted source.
The City of Hope team first transplanted adipocyte cells (APC) from young and older mice in a second group of young mice. APC from older animals have rapidly generated a colossal amount of fat cells.
However, when the team transplanted the APC from young to older mice, stem cells did not produce many new fat cells. The results have confirmed that older APCs are equipped to produce new fat cells independently, regardless of their host's age.
The conclusion of the experiments
Using unicellular RNA sequence, scientists then compared the activity of APC genes to young and older mice. Although they were barely active in young mice, the APC woke up with powerful mice and began to produce new fat cells.
“While the ability to grow most adult stem cells decreases with age, the opposite is valid in the case of APCs – aging unlocks the power of these cells to evolve and spread“, Said Adolfo Garcia-Western, president of the Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Department of City of Hope.
“This is the first proof of the fact that our bellies are extending with old age due to the high production of fat cells“He said.
Also, aging has transformed APC into a new type of stem cells called determined pre-specifics (CP-As). Depending on middle-aged, CP-A cells actively produce new fat cells, explaining why older mice take more weight.
A signaling path called the inhibitory factor of leukemia (LIFR) has proven essential for promoting the multiplication and evolution of these CP-A cells.
“I discovered that the process of fat production in the body is led by LIFR. While young mice do not need this signal to make fat, older mice need. Our research indicates that LIFR plays a crucial role in triggering CP-A to create new fat cells and expand fat from the belly to older mice“, Explained Wang.
Using unicellular RNA sequencing on samples from people of different ages, Wang and his colleagues then studied APC from human tissues.
Again, the team also identified similar CP cells that had an increased number in the tissue of middle-aged people. Their discovery also illustrates the fact that the CP-in in humans have a high ability to create new fat cells.
“Our discoveries highlight the importance of controlling new fat cells to address age -related obesity“Said Wang, who also claims that”Understanding the role of CP-AS in metabolic disorders and how these cells occur during aging could lead to new medical solutions to reduce abdominal fat and improve health and longevity”.
