The study, conducted on mice, suggests that a chemical messenger called TGF-β1 plays a role in the production of an appetite-stimulating hormone called asprosin. Researchers found that mice that gained weight had high levels of asprosin that lingered even after they lost weight. This lingering effect could be tied to the way TGF-β1 acts on fat cells, leading to a prolonged appetite-stimulating effect.
The study's authors, including Seth Field and Atul Chopra from Case Western Reserve University, emphasize that the findings are not proof of the mechanisms that explain weight regain in humans. However, the research is a step forward in understanding the cellular changes underlying obesity. The study's results, published in Cell Reports, suggest that treating obesity may require tackling a "biological memory" in our cells.
The idea that cells can carry a memory of obesity is not new, but researchers are still trying to understand the mechanisms of how it influences weight regain. Through epigenetics, scientists are examining how external factors can affect how our cells behave by altering chemical markers that can turn genes on and off. A previous study in 2024 found that fat cells in both humans and mice retain lasting epigenetic changes after weight loss.
The researchers found that mice fed high-fat diets, which naturally increased their TGF-β1 and asprosin levels, retained high asprosin levels even after losing weight. This suggests that the mice had a "memory" of prior obesity, making them more likely to regain weight. The study's findings could provide a target for drug development and further research for humans.
Experts praise the study, but note that more research is needed to determine the importance of TGF-β1 in humans. According to Claude Bouchard, a professor emeritus at Louisiana State University, hundreds of genetic traits have been associated with risk factors for obesity, and it's likely that a constellation of these traits determines an individual's risk.
The study's findings have implications for the treatment of obesity. Researchers suggest that managing the condition is not just a matter of willpower or personal behavior, but rather a complex interplay of genetic and cellular factors. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying weight regain and to develop effective treatments for obesity.
Key points
- TGF-β1 may play a role in the production of asprosin, a hormone that stimulates appetite.
- The study's findings suggest that treating obesity may require tackling a "biological memory" in our cells.
- More research is needed to determine the importance of TGF-β1 in humans and to develop effective treatments for obesity.
