Hormones and fat

Fat cells are responsible for far more than padding our paunches: They secrete hormones that, according to C&EN, affect metabolic health. Now, scientists are targeting these fat-linked hormones — searching for therapeutics that might treat conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and heart disease.

For instance, Baylor researchers sequenced the genomes of people with a rare disorder that leads to exceedingly low levels of body fat, and found a hormone called asprosin plays a role. The patients carried a gene mutation that made them not produce asprosin — whereas folks with obesity have an excess of asprosin. So the scientists are exploring whether regulating asprosin levels could, perhaps, allow for better weight control.