United States: The scientific community conducted groundbreaking work to track the multiple fat cell populations located through all basic human fat tissues.
Scientists employed modern technology to discover several distinct fat cell types possessing functions that exceeded prior scientific comprehension.
Scientists identified alternate methods through which cellular interaction occurs between different fat tissues.
Researchers published their findings in Nature Genetics to establish a basis for developing personalized obesity treatments through future medical research.
How did the experts analyze it?
The research group analyzed different types of fat cells between subcutaneous and intra-abdominal (visceral) tissues found in human bodies.
The research team employed advanced technology for mapping RNA molecules since these chemicals enable protein production from genomic information.
Each cell produces RNA molecules, which receive a one-of-a-kind identification mark known as a “barcode” through this technology.
A tissue contains thousands of barcoded cells, allowing researchers to identify similar RNA molecule clusters found in the same cell type and distinct clusters discovered between different types of cells.
Studies on donor-derived adipose tissue samples through this technology enabled scientists to recognize major components such as fat cells, blood vessel cells, and immune system cells, as well as unrecognizable cell types.
The perception of fat tissues and fat cells evolved fundamentally during the past thirty years.
Previously, scientists considered adipose tissue a simple accumulation point for energy storage through triglycerides (fat) before using it as an energy source.
Scientists now understand that adipose tissue produces hundreds of bloodborne proteins as well as additional substances to perform regulatory functions while engaging in endocrine communication activities inside its tissue domain as well as between fat cells, brain cells, blood vessels, liver tissue, and pancreatic cells.
What more are the experts stating?
As Prof. Yeger-Lotem explained, “The diversity of fat cells in the different fat tissues in humans is more complex, interesting, and surprising than we previously thought. For example, in addition to the ‘classical’ fat (adipocyte) cells, we found subpopulations of adipocytes, characterized here for the first time, that express RNA molecules indicating unique functions, such as regulation of inflammatory processes, blood vessel formation, extracellular protein deposition, and scarring (fibrosis),” explained Prof. Yeger-Lotem,” scitechdaily.com reported.