A new study has found a gene called IRF-5 could be the answer to stopping overweight and obese people suffering from diseases like Type II diabetes.
Researcher shows when fat deposits around organs in the stomach it can cause insulin resistance, contributing to the development of Type II diabetes and heart disease.
But in a breakthrough study, scientists have found a way to stop fat forming around these internal organs that would usually be the cause of developing such chronic diseases.
The new study, conducted by researchers at Oxford University in the United Kingdom and researchers at the French Institute of Health and Medical Research in Paris and published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine, shows that changing the way fat is deposited in the body reaps a multitude of changes in the body’s immune system.
Usually, fat deposited around the organs in the stomach increases the numbers of cells called “macrophages” (immune system defence cells).
These macrophages in turn produce a protein known as IRF-5 that switches off insulin sensitivity.
The researchers wanted to know what would happen if they removed the gene responsible for IRF5 production so they trialed removing it in mice.
Mice are often used for these studies as they respond in a similar way to humans.
During the study, one group had the IRF-5 gene removed. Another set were normal mice. The two groups were fed both healthy and high fat diets.
The results showed that when the two sets of mice were on the healthy diet there was no difference.
However, on a high fat diet, the normal mice put on fat in deposits around their internal organs. The genetically altered mice put on fat under the skin.
“The mice without IRF-5 still got fat, but what was different was where they deposited this fat,’” says Oxford University’s Professor Irina Udalova from the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology.
“We know that people who put on fat around their belly have a higher risk of developing obesity-related illnesses such as type-2 diabetes, compared to people who put on weight around their thighs.
“We can’t change patterns of fat deposit in people yet, but we can now do in these mice. What we did discover, was that the mice without IRF-5 were essentially healthy, despite being significantly fatter.”
However, the genetic manipulation may cause other complications, such as an increased allergy reaction and this, says Professor Udalova, needs further investigation.
Scientists are still a long way from being able to change the way fat deposits happen in humans but the study holds up the idea that targeting the IRF-5 gene with new drugs may become a future treatment for obesity and obesity related diseases.
“The results show very clearly that where you get fat matters a lot”, says Professor Udalova.
