s118399

Excessive contact between cellular organelles disrupts metabolism in obesity

Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) have found a novel mechanism causing type 2 diabetes that could be targeted to prevent or treat the disease. The research highlights a previously unrecognized molecular pathway that contributes to the malfunction of liver cells in obesity, leading to insulin resistance and diabetes.

The study appears online November 24, 2014 in Nature Medicine.

“While it is well-established that obesity generates cellular and molecular stress leading to abnormal functioning of many cellular processes, the mechanisms remain incompletely understood,” said senior author Gökhan S. Hotamisligil, chair of the Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases and the Sabri Ülker Center for Nutrient, Genetic, and Metabolic Research. “Our study revealed that one of these mechanisms involves metabolic stress-induced structural changes within liver cells that compromise their function.”

The researchers used electron microscopy and other imaging techniques to view thousands of cells from the liver tissue of lean and obese mice. They counted each of the contact points between two cellular organelles — the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria — and demonstrated for the first time that the number of these connections, called MAMs, markedly increase during obesity.

Under normal conditions, these connections are necessary for the function of both organelles. However, co-authors Ana Paula Arruda, Benedicte Pers, and colleagues showed that the increased connectivity resulted in an excess of calcium being transferred from the ER to the mitochondria, leading to mitochondrial stress. In an elegant proof-of-principle approach, the researchers used synthetic molecules to decrease the physical distance between the ER and mitochondria in cells and in liver tissue and found that this intervention impaired mitochondrial function and made mice more sensitive to high fat diet-induced insulin resistance and diabetes.

The researchers also demonstrated that by disrupting the ER-mitochondrial interactions and calcium transfer, they could markedly improve the metabolic health of obese diabetic mice — pointing the way to a potential treatment target in humans. “It turns out that the enhanced MAM formation in obesity is too much of a good thing, leading to functional failure of multiple organelles and amplification of cellular stress,” Hotamisligil said.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Harvard School of Public Health. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Original story here.
Diet And Weight Loss News — Sciencedaily
— Courtesy “Science News Daily” (ScienceNewsDaily.com)

It can do nearly everything the Up band can do, except vibrate: just keep in mind that there’s a similarly-priced Misfit Flash that’s nearly the same.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

67% off YOGA Classes at “Fitness Rx” in Farmington Hills


New first-time customers only. One per person – subject to available space. May buy 3 additional as gifts. Each voucher must be redeemed by a different individual Must email in advance to reserve your first class. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. No cash value & No credit for unused value. Voucher expires 6 months from the date of purchase. Offer honored at all locations with the exception of the Community house, in Birmingham.

Price: $ 60.00
Sold by

Norwesco Double Threaded 2″ Fitting


2″ polypropylene bulkhead fitting with EPDM gasket
List Price: $ 6.99
Price: $ 6.99


You May Also Like These Topics...
2 women playing soccer on green grass field during daytime

You Can Help Your Child Get More Exercise By Following These 5 Tips

Does your child get enough exercise? You can get your children more active with these 5 fun parenting tips.

man in black t-shirt and black shorts running on road during daytime

Better Health in Four Steps

In just four steps, you can improve your health for the better and this article will show you how. The steps below are bite-sized nuggets of health information you can actually use to live a healthy life. Here we go… Nutritional supplements are the first step As far as I’m concerned, they are very important […]

Top 4 Nutrition Predictions in the New Year

Several food and nutrition trends were in the spotlight this year, including the continued rise of plant-based diets, non-dairy ice creams and superfoods that are blasts from the past — legumes, apples and cabbage. It can be easy to experience nutrition whiplash in the New Year, but don’t be a victim. Get a jump-start on […]

5 Ways to Feel Good While Getting Fit

Setting intentions is a powerful thing. Then when you have that shiny new gym membership in hand, you feel like nothing stands between you and your goals to get in shape once and for all. Trouble is, lack of motivation, unpreparedness and busy schedules have a way of interfering with our plans. If you find […]

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Previous Post
rp_blog-fitnovatives-112414.jpg
Supplements Yoga

Breathing Techniques That Can Enhance Your Workouts and Help You Relax

Next Post

Eating For A Healthy Heart

Leave a Reply

0 Shares
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin