fat Archives

Study may lead to new diabetes, heart disease treatments

Jan. 12, 2023—Vanderbilt research found that deletion of an autophagy-participating factor named PIK3C3 from the fat cells of mice led to compromised body temperature control, abnormal blood lipid levels, fatty liver and diabetes.

Regulators of fat cell metabolism

Sep. 7, 2021—Vanderbilt researchers have discovered new details of the regulation of fat cell metabolism, findings that are important for combating obesity.

Mariana Byndloss, DVM, PhD, Woongjae Yoo, PhD, and colleagues are studying how a high-fat diet may contribute to heart disease. (Photo taken prior to revised masking guidelines.)

Study reveals missing link between high-fat diet, microbiota and heart disease

Aug. 12, 2021—A high-fat diet disrupts the biology of the gut’s inner lining and its microbial communities — and promotes the production of a metabolite that may contribute to heart disease, according to a study published Aug. 13 in the journal Science.

HIV, diabetes and immune cells in fat

Mar. 18, 2021—In HIV-positive individuals with diabetes, immune cells in fat are more proinflammatory and cytotoxic and may represent a therapeutic target for diabetes.

Fat tissue’s “iron sink”

Sep. 27, 2018—Alyssa Hasty and colleagues demonstrated that immune cells called macrophages act in fat tissue to store iron and prevent iron toxicity.

Enzyme protects against obesity-related heart disease

Jun. 7, 2018—Vanderbilt scientists have discovered that a certain enzyme plays a crucial role in preventing obesity-related cardiac dysfunction.

Fat hormone’s role in zebrafish

Mar. 8, 2016—The hormone leptin regulates glucose balance, but not fat stores, in zebrafish.

Study examines therapeutic bacteria’s ability to prevent obesity

Jul. 17, 2014—Engineered bacteria that produce a therapeutic compound in the gut prevent obesity in mice, Vanderbilt University investigators have discovered.

‘Yo-yo dieting’ inflames fat tissue

Aug. 9, 2013—Gaining and losing weight during “yo-yo dieting” may contribute to an exaggerated immune response in fat tissue that increases metabolic dysfunction more than steady weight gain alone.