The study analyzes how the diet affects the expression of genes in adipose tissue

According to CDC, as many as 40% of Americans are obese, which puts them at an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart disease and some cancers. New research from the University of Delaware is aimed at solving the problem by testing obesity at the gene level.

The main researcher Ibra Fancher, an assistant to the Kinesiology and physiology professor used at UD’s College of Health Sciences, discovered significant differences in the expression of genes in adipose tissue, more often known as fat. Previously considered to be storage of fat, fat tissue is currently considered a significant hormonal organ. Dysfunction in the tissue is associated with significant cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

In a study published in a fancher and colleagues, they examined how the diet affects the expression of genes in adipose tissue using an animal model. One group consumed a diet similar to a typical high -fat, high -quality Western diet, and the other ate a standard Chow for over a year.

We expected to see solid changes in fat and indeed fat compositions in the high -fat group were significantly different, showing significant changes related to a poor diet and obesity. “

Ibra Fancher, assistant to a professor of kinesiology and applied physiology, UD’s College of Health Sciences

Key arrangements

The study, financed by the Federal National Institutes of Health Grant Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (Cobre) in the field of cardiovascular health, showed that over 300 genes have been expressed differently in subcutaneous fat tissue (SAT), less dangerous form of fat. For comparison, almost 700 genes were expressed differently in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Viscavable fat or fat around important organs increases the risk of significant health problems.

“VAT comparison to SAT is raw. The expansion of visceral fat, along with its inflammatory role in obesity and metabolic diseases, is particularly serious, “said Fancher. “This study emphasizes the impact of obesity, which often results from a poor diet and a sitting lifestyle, on specific fat, which is a very likely factor affecting health. This makes the affected tissue a good goal of intervention to protect other systems. “

Among the thousands of analyzed Fancher’s study genes, they identified four genes related to metabolism, calcium support and inflammation This justifies further investigation.

“We want to check if these genes are profitable in improving the function of fat in obesity,” said Fancher. “They could be focused on existing drugs or reborn new treatment methods specially designed to affect these genes.”

Innovative approach

Fancher collaborated with Bruce Kingham, director of sequencing and genotyping thighs at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, and Shawn Polson, director of Bioinformatics Data Science Core at the Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and Computational Biology and Delaware inbre, and Delaware Inbre Inbre aware inbre inbre , as well as Delaware Inbre. Department of Computer and Information Sciences at College of Engineering.

“Our basic facilities provide access to advanced technologies and specialist knowledge in the field of RNA and bioinformatics sequencing, which enable thigh researchers to conduct this type of research,” said Polson. “In this project, when we analyzed the data, it clearly pointed us to the genes and paths related to obesity, which differed between VAT and SAT.”

From left to right, Shawn Polson, director of Bioinformatics Data Science Core at UD’s Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and Delaware Inbre and a professor of research in the Computer and Information Department of Engineering; Ibra Fancher, an assistant professor of kinesiology and applied physiology; Mark Shaw, Associate at the Center for Sequencing and Genotyping of UD in Delaware Biotechnology Institute, cooperated on these research.

Malak Alradi, the third year of a doctoral student, studying biology and molecular genetics, played a key role in organizing genes into paths to better understand their biological meaning.

“Before I started this research, I thought that fat was the same in the body, but when I saw RNA sequencing and studied various genes and paths, I realized that VAT affects obesity much more than Saturday,” said Aloradi. “Our approach shows how these processes are connected and why focus on specific paths can affect the treatment of obesity.”

Stranger statistical methods have also confirmed key arrangements for fat warehouses, including changes in metabolism and inflammation.

“It makes us feel really good with identified genes,” said Fancher. “This is emphasized by the novelty of our findings.”

Next steps

Fancher is now planning to examine the expression of genes in human fat tissue. In cooperation with Dr. Caitlin Halbert, director of Bariatric Surgery in Christicacare, Fancher aims to determine whether the previous findings relate to human samples.

He also noticed the potential of sexual differences.

“Obesity affects sex very differently, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we found gender differences,” said Fancher. “Recognition of these differences is of key importance for adapting more personalized and targeted interventions.”