Scientists know long that obesity is associated with a host of other conditions of health, including Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Now, a team of researchers King's College London and Oxford University have do light on why: a gene, in adipose tissue acts as a "master regulator", by controlling the effect of a bunch of other genes that are linked to obesity, cholesterol and diabetes.
The master gene in question is called KLF14, and while it has been previously linked to diabetes Type 2 and cholesterol, new research says how – and offers a new target for the treatment of obesity-related diseases.
"This is the first major study that shows how small changes in a single master regulator gene can cause a cascade of other metabolic effects in other genes," said lead author Tim Spector, in a statement.
The research is part of a study large multinational scale called the MuTHER study (for multiple tissue Expression human resources). Scientists analyzed more than 20,000 genes fat female samples collected just under the skin of 400 pairs of twins in the United Kingdom. They found an association between the KLF14 and the expression of other genes, also found in fats, affecting a range of metabolic characters including levels of cholesterol and insulin and glucose body mass index.
To confirm the results, researchers more tested 600 fat samples from a group distinct from the Icelandic.
Interestingly, the researchers said, the activity of the KLF14 gene is inherited from the mother; the copy of the gene inherited from the father is disabled. How the gene KLF14 person may affect expression of other genes associated with metabolism is therefore dependent on the copy received from the mother.
The conclusions also corroborate the evidence existing as metabolic traits — everything from weight to insulin levels are intimately related - and that these relations have a genetic component.
Researchers hope their discovery will stimulate research and will one day help to improve the medical treatment of obesity and metabolic diseases associated with. "This has great therapeutic potential," said Spector. "By studying the large populations detailed as twins we hope to find more of these regulators."
The study was published in the journal Nature Genetics, May 15.
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