2023-07-11 00:16:36
▲ Professor Park Ji-young (Photo Credit=UNIST)
[메디컬투데이=이한희 기자] Recent obesity-related research reports predict that more than half of the world’s population will be classified as obese or overweight in the next 10 years. Although obesity-related metabolic diseases are prevalent worldwide, the exact cause and treatment have not been found. However, recent studies on the relationship between obesity and diabetes have attracted attention.
The team led by Professor Jiyoung Park of the Department of Life Sciences at UNIST analyzed endotrophin protein derived from the extracellular matrix, which provides an environment necessary for cell growth and differentiation.
The research team revealed for the first time in the world that endotropin protein, which is increased in obesity, enters fat cells and controls autophagy, which destroys unnecessary cells, causing inflammation and diabetes. This study is expected to be used for treatment of cancer and metabolic diseases related to obesity caused by inflammation and autophagy abnormalities.
Endotropin is an extracellular matrix protein that responds to metabolic stress outside the cell in case of obesity, and was first discovered in 2012 by Professor Jiyoung Park. Endotropin levels increase in obese situations, which is known to exacerbate diabetes by increasing adipose tissue fibrosis, inflammation, and insulin resistance.
The research team compared and analyzed the obese and non-obese situations to analyze in detail the pathways in which endotropin moves in and out of cells. In an obese situation, endotropin accumulates in adipocytes through the process of endocytosis, a pathway by which extracellular substances are transported into cells.
This newly revealed that it not only promotes the formation of autophagosomes involved in autophagy, but also induces abnormalities in autophagy, such as inhibiting the disassembly of autophagy, which causes cell death, inflammation, and insulin resistance.
Specifically, it was found that endotropin introduced into adipocytes promotes the formation of autophagic cells through the mediation of SEC13, a protein related to protein transport, and the ATG7 protein, which is important in the formation of autophagic cells.
In addition, autophagy accumulated in endotropin disrupts the balance of the autophagy process, leading to death of fat cells, increased inflammation, and worsening of insulin resistance. At this time, it was also confirmed that obesity-related metabolic diseases are improved by suppressing ATG7 protein function or neutralizing endotropin using the siRNA system, a system that interferes with specific gene expression.
Professor Park Ji-young of the Department of Life Sciences said, “The accumulation of endotropin in cells can be used as a biomarker to indicate an imbalance in extracellular matrix homeostasis.” It might be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating obesity-related metabolic diseases.”
Meanwhile, the results of this study were pre-published online on June 10 (Sat) in Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental, the top international journal in the field of endocrine metabolism, and are regarding to be officially published.
Medical Today Reporter Lee Han-hee (hnhn0414@mdtoday.co.kr)
[저작권자ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]
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