Mitochondrial genes in fat tissues work poorly in obesity
Appeared in BioNews 1091
A twin study has revealed that obesity causes the dysfunction of mitochondria which triggers inflammation, particularly in fat tissue.
Obesity is associated with numerous health complications, including diabetes and heart conditions. However, tissue-specific mechanisms that drive these conditions are not well understood. Researchers at the University of Helsinki, Finland, investigated how obesity alters the muscle and fat, or adipose, tissue in a study of identical twins. If mitochondria, the cellular powerplants, are compared to the engine of a car, you could say that the power output decreases as weight increases, said Professor Kirsi Pietiläinen, who led the research.