Women's Body Shape Can Affect How Susceptible They Are to Type 2 Diabetes

The gene KLF14 regulates body fat storage in women which can affect how susceptible a women is to type 2 diabetes. Most of the genes that are associated with type 2 diabetes relate to the pancreas, but, unlike these genes, the KLF14 gene relates to fat tissue. A particular version of this gene leads to storing more fat around the hips and causes women with larger hips to normally have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, people, in general, who have most of their weight stored at their midsection have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The different variations of this particular gene may also be a factor in people's response to insulin. This gene, however, does not effect how heavy an individual might become, just where their body fat will be stored.
The original article explains the correlation between the KLF14 gene and the risk for type 2 diabetes. It is helpful to estimate risk of diabetes by just looking in a mirror. Although it is obviously better to eat clean and live a healthy lifestyle, an easy indicator of diabetes like placement of body fat is extra incentive not to grab for that extra slice of cake. Hopefully further research on this particular gene can lead to new treatments.

Zebrafish Used to Study Fat Storage Gene

A study involving zebrafish has led to discoveries in understanding certain components of fat storage in relation to humans. The gene, Plexin-D1, plays an important role in controlling the shape of fat cells and their method of storage. Earlier studies hypothesized this gene’s involvement with fat storage, but were unable to determine the exact mechanism behind how it was capable of working.

A team of researchers at Duke University in North Carolina first examined the Plexin-D1 gene in mice, but the project came to a halt when all the mice lacking the gene died. The team was able to continue the experiment using zebrafish, with the added advantage of the zebrafish being partially transparent. This allowed the researchers to visually study fat distribution. Some zebrafish were genetically engineered to lack the Plexin-D1 gene. These genetically modified fish had less overall visceral fat and smaller fat cells than the control group, fish with the Plexin-D1 gene. These fish also did not exhibit insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes consistent with a diet high in fat.

This research identified a new molecular pathway that affects metabolic health by determining how fat is stored in the body. Researchers believe this gene is responsible for building blood vessels and setting up structures to house fat cells. Now researchers may be able to farther study this pathway to address these concerns in humans as potential targets for the build-up of visceral fat. Though many genes play a role in metabolism and body type, analysis of the Plexin-D1 gene will play an integral part in determining methods of fat accumulation in humans.

Could You Be Wearing "Fat Jeans" Because of Fat Genes?

According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles, in addition to environmental factors such as diet and exercise, obesity is indeed linked to an individual's genes. For 16 weeks, over 100 genetic strains of mice were treated in laboratories under identical conditions. Each were first given a healthy, well-balanced diet for a duration of 8 weeks followed by a high-sugar, high-fat content diet for the remaining 8 weeks. The results were very interesting; Although handled under the same environmental conditions, there was a prominent variation in weight gain among all of the mice. Some showed little to no change while others increased their body fat by over "600 percent." Therefore, scientists contributed this variation to genetic influences.

If people consume a high-fat diet, the response will be predominantly determined by genetics," Dr. Lusis said. "But whether you choose to eat a high-fat diet in the first place is largely environmental."

Eleven genetic loci associated with obesity and fat storage were identified, several of which were "linked to obesity in humans." It was found that some mice had higher fat burning mechanisms, thus eliminating more calories, while others had greater propensities to be more physically active. Data from this study can greatly contribute to targeting more efficient weight loss treatments and pharmacology in the near future. In addition, researchers hope to also study more specifically "brown fat" which is metabolically responsible for creating heat and burning caloric intake. While it is certain that what one consumes and how one utilizes those calories (through exercise or inactivity) has a significant effect on fat loss and storage, it is also now inferred that obesity can be highly inheritable and pre-existent in one's genome.

[For more on this article, check out the following links: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/10/fat-genes-obesity-ucla-study-diet-exercise_n_2450108.html & http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/09/what-mice-can-tell-us-about-obesity-and-genetics/ ]