The Engineering of Brown Fat [Abstract]
Obesity is a body condition that poses a considerable risk for serious diet related chronic diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and certain forms of cancer. The disorder is as a result of the accumulation of fats in the adipose tissue. The tissue is primarily composed of adipocytes. The fatty cells are specialized cells that take on a polar role in the regulation of energy balance both as a fat storage storehouse and as an endocrine tissue (Christian & Parker, 2009). The control and treatment of the diseases has been quite challenging for the past few years. Surgery, therapy drugs and diet control, have been among the top most available treatments. However, engineering of brown fat is proven with no doubt, can help bridle the increasing rates of obesity. The process includes the enhancement of the formation of the brown adipose tissues, through Bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7) and the muscle precursor cells, which are myogenic factor 5 (Myf5), under the control of PR Domain Containing 16 (PRDM16) (Christian & Parker, 2009). The action of PRDM16 and other factors, aid for brown fat formation and the suppression of genes responsible for the white fat formation. The brown fat is highly oxidized through thermogenisis, hence making it a better remedy for obesity (Christian & Parker, 2009). Concisely, the understanding of the cell structure of the mouse fibroblasts-least specialized connective tissue cells- has contributed a lot to the engineering of the Brown fat. Depicted by the expression of PRMD 16 and other factors in the mouse fibroblasts and transplanting of similar cells into mice, which amounts to the formation of brown fat selective genes, responsible for the formation of brown fats. In light with this, metabolic co-regulators and the nervous system, which is a core regulator in the human metabolic energy, regulate the brown adipocyte genes, enabling a proficient development and functioning of the brown adipose tissues (Christian & Parker, 2009).
Work Cited
Christian, M. & Parker, M. G. (2009). “The Engineering of Brown Fat.” Journal of Molecular Cell Biology, 2: 23–25. doi:10.1093/jmcb/mjp035.
