Hormonal
Deletion of the p38α kinase in adipose tissue protects against high-fat diet-induced obesity by increasing energy expenditure and brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis.
Current research suggests that low levels of the p38α protein in fat tissue are associated with higher body mass index in humans. In mice, removing p38α from fat cells prevents obesity by boosting heat production. This implies that therapies aiming to reduce p38α activity in fat might help treat obesity, but this is currently only a mechanistic finding in animals, not a human treatment protocol.
we unexpectedly found that lack of p38α protected against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. We also showed that p38αFab-KO mice presented higher energy expenditure due to increased BAT thermogenesis.
Why this rating
Strong evidence from multiple genetically modified mouse models (p38αFab-KO, p38αUCP1-KO) and human tissue correlation, though human intervention data is absent.
Source
p38α blocks brown adipose tissue thermogenesis through p38δ inhibition
Nuria Matesanz et al. · PLoS Biology · 2018
DOI 10.1371/journal.pbio.2004455
More from this paper
- The p38δ kinase isoform promotes brown adipose tissue thermogenesis, and its deletion leads to obesity and reduced energy expenditure.Good
- In human visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, p38α (Mapk14) mRNA levels inversely correlate with Body Mass Index (BMI) and positively correlate with UCP1 expression.Moderate
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →