Discovered 'this' that helps you stay slim even when eating to your heart's content

A way might open up to enjoy the foods you want without exercising and still maintain a slim figure, because a protein that plays a key role in creating fat cells has been discovered.

The research team at Nanjing University in China has discovered that mice lacking the 'CD44' protein maintain a lean physique even when on a high-fat diet. The CD44 protein is a glycoprotein on the cell surface that plays a crucial role in cell interaction, adhesion, and migration.

The research team observed that mice deficient in CD44 remained lean on a high-fat diet, unlike obese control mice.

The research team analyzed RNA sequences and found that CD44 stimulates the expression of tryptophan 5-hydroxylase 2 (Tph2) in white adipocytes, inducing the production of serotonin (5-HT). Serotonin promotes fat formation in white adipose tissue. In fact, when CD44 is activated, the white fat in the groin and epididymal regions of obese mice significantly increases.

If CD44 is deficient, this process is hindered, and fat formation is suppressed. This protects mice from obesity caused by a high-fat diet. Mice lacking CD44 were resistant to obesity and metabolic dysfunction induced by a high-fat diet.

Dr. Nantungdae Cheong Sun Park stated, "In previous studies, we discovered that CD44 deficiency suppresses neural inflammation," and added, "Since inflammation plays a crucial role in related complications such as obesity, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance, we investigated the correlation between CD44 and metabolic disorders."

GLP-1 receptors, such as Ozempic, known as the "miracle obesity treatment," regulate appetite and glucose metabolism to achieve weight loss effects. In contrast, inhibiting the CD44 protein can treat obesity through a clear mechanism of fat formation suppression.

This study was published in the American Journal of Pathology under the title "Ablation of CD44 Attenuates Adipogenesis in White Adipocytes via the Tryptophan 5-Hydroxylase 2/5-Hydroxytryptamine Axis to Protect Mice from High-Fat Diet–Induced Obesity."

==================================================

Is the day coming when eating and obesity will no longer be related?