Almost one in six adults would be obese in France, or 17 % of the over 18s. To fight against this scourge, scientists have developed an anti-obeyity pill targeting macrophages, immune cells present in all tissues. The results of this study are available in the journal Immunity.
Macrophages become a therapeutic target
Macrophages are cells in the immune system which, in addition to playing an essential role in the early response to microbial infection, also regulates tissue function and inflammation. Inflammation is a physiological response that helps repair damaged tissues, but if it is not properly resolved, it can promote chronic inflammation, which is at the origin of many conditions, such as metabolic syndrome associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Better still, the macrophages, very malleable, seemed to adapt to the needs of the organ where they reside.
Stop the tuning of pro-inflammatory macrophages
This discovery “allows us to better understand how macrophages regulate their metabolism according to the organ in which they reside“Said Dr. Sancho in a press release.
“”In fabrics rich in extracellular fats and cholesterol, such as lungs and spleen, macrophages adapt their metabolism to degrade these fats by mitochondrial breathing “, explains the first author of the study“, Dr Stefanie TCLEK.”Using genetic or pharmacological methods to disrupt mitochondrial breathing, mitochondria can be eliminated from lungs and spleen, while macrophages of other organs, which do not depend on mitochondrial breathing, survive. “
In the event of obesity, excess fat exceeds the capacity of adipocytes and macrophages then activate, transforming into inflammatory cells which promote the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and liver steatosis.
But this modification of macrophages of adipose tissue also makes them vulnerable as the researchers specify. “”Activated macrophages depend on mitochondrial breathing to treat excess fat, making them vulnerable to therapeutic interventions, including pharmacological inhibitors of mitochondrial breathing“Explained Dr. Sancho.
Towards new treatments against obesity, diabetes or cardiovascular diseases
The inhibition of mitochondrial breathing makes it possible to kill these pro-inflammatory macrophages, preventing the progression of obesity, type 2 diabetes and hepatic steatosis. The demonstration of this CEZ Mouse mechanism.
The inhibition of mitochondrial breathing in mice, whose diet was rich in fat, made it possible to show that rodents did not gain weight, despite the number of calories ingested.
This anti -obesity pill also seemed to prevent type 2 diabetes and liver steatosis in rodents – two diseases associated with metabolic syndrome (excess fat in the belly).
For researchers, this discovery opens the way to new treatments for affections linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome, such as cardiovascular disease.