Researchers found that overweight and obese people had increased levels of kallistatin in subcutaneous white adipose tissue after weight loss. Kalistatin is a protein associated with improved metabolism and potential therapeutic effects in obesity and type 2 diabetes. This finding, investigated through both clinical and animal studies, highlights the role of kallistatin in enhancing hepatic insulin sensitivity and suggests that kallistatin is a promising target for future treatments.
A new study shows that weight loss in overweight people increases the expression of kallistatin in adipose tissue, promoting metabolism and providing a new target for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
A recent study by DZD researchers found that overweight or obese people had increased levels of the protein kallistatin in their subcutaneous white adipose tissue after losing weight. Additionally, kallistatin has been shown to promote metabolism, potentially paving the way for new treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes.The results of this study were recently published in the journal molecular metabolism.
The number of people developing type 2 diabetes and obesity is increasing. These are very complex and multifaceted diseases. New approaches to treatment are needed to sustainably treat these. Clinical studies in humans have shown that severely overweight people produce less kallistatin. Kalistatin is a protein that has various effects in the body.
Among other things, it is involved in suppressing inflammation and healing wounds. The role of kallistatin in glucose metabolism and its potential suitability as a therapeutic target is currently being investigated by researchers at the German Diabetes Research Center (DZD) and the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) in Eberhard, Munich. has been done. -Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nephrology at Karls University Tübingen and University Hospital Tübingen.
Kalistatin expression increases after weight loss
To this end, they measured the expression of kallistatin in the subcutaneous white adipose tissue of 47 overweight to obese individuals before and after weight loss. Results: Kalistatin expression increases after weight loss.
Expression of the protein kallistatin increases after weight loss. In mice, it improves hepatic insulin sensitivity. Credit: IDM [email protected].
Kalistatin improves liver insulin sensitivity
Additionally, the researchers examined the effects of the protein in animal models. In the process, they observed that human kallistatin improved liver conditions. insulin Susceptibility of mice to diet-induced obesity.
“Our results suggest that kallistatin may be an interesting but challenging therapeutic target for people with obesity and insulin resistance,” says lead author Leontine Sandfors. . “Because kallistatin has insulin-sensitizing effects in the liver, it should be investigated as a liver-specific target with the potential to mimic the beneficial effects of weight loss and treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.” added author Professor Andreas Birkenfeld.
Reference: “The role of human kallistatin in glucose and energy homeostasis in mice” Leontine Sandforth, Sebastian Brachs, Julia Reinke, Diana Willmes, Gencer Sancar, Judith Seigner, David Juarez-Lopez, Arvid Sandforth, Jeffrey D. McBride, Jian -Xing Written by Ma, Sven Hauffe, Jens Jordan, and Andreas L. Birkenfeld, February 29, 2024. molecular metabolism.
DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101905
