Scientists investigated the role of Gpc3 protein in adipose tissue adaptation to diet

Scientists have identified a gene that may play a key role in how the body distributes fat during obesity. We are talking about the Gpc3 gene, which regulates the formation of fat cells in different fat depots. This is stated in a study published by PLOS Biology.

Adipose tissue in the human body is divided into two main types — subcutaneous and visceral, located around the internal organs. These depots react differently to changes in nutrition, but the mechanisms of this difference have so far remained poorly understood.

As part of the work, the researchers conducted a proteomic analysis of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue samples from obese and non-obese people. The results showed that the tissues have significantly different molecular profiles, and these differences persist regardless of body weight. Additional experiments on mice revealed that the Gpc3 gene behaves differently in different fat stores. In subcutaneous adipose tissue, its activity increases with a high—fat diet, while in a visceral one it decreases.

When scientists artificially disabled this gene in the progenitor cells of adipose tissue in mice, the animals began to gain weight and fat mass faster on a high-calorie diet. At the same time, the expansion occurred mainly in subcutaneous adipose tissue, while the visceral tissue remained virtually unchanged.

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The study showed that Gpc3 affects the fate of fat precursor cells: in its absence, they are more likely to turn into new fat cells instead of continuing to divide. This process is associated with changes in the Wnt signaling pathway, which regulates cell growth and differentiation.

The authors of the study believe that the identified mechanism may explain why body fat is distributed unevenly and why some forms of obesity are more dangerous to health. In the future, Gpc3 may become a molecular target for new treatments for obesity and related metabolic diseases, as exposure to this gene could potentially change the distribution of adipose tissue in the body.

Pavel Biryukov, a bariatric surgeon at the SM Clinic, spoke to Izvestia on February 22 about the ineffectiveness of diets for obesity. According to him, they rarely give a stable result, because the body activates defense mechanisms and slows down the metabolism.

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