Grant: Project Grant

Obesity is defined as the excessive accumulation of white adipose tissue (WAT) and is an important risk factor for the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of obesity is increasing and authorities view this condition as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Recent studies indicate that the adipocyte population that composes WAT is very dynamic and that a good proportion of adipocytes are renewed every year. This indicates that adipose cells are constantly dying and being replaced by new adipocytes, which opens a possible therapeutic window to regulate WAT mass. The mechanisms regulating the early steps leading to the recruitment of new fat cells from progenitors are unknown. Recently, we have discovered a protein that plays an important role in the development of adipocytes in vitro. This protein, named V-set and transmembrane domain-containing 2A (VSTM2A), is expressed and secreted by committed preadipocytes. Experiments performed in cell culture showed that VSTM2A depletion blocks adipogenesis, whereas its overexpression induces this process. The proposed research project has as its major objective to define the mechanism of action of VSTM2A and its role in regulating WAT development and expansion in vivo. Improving the understanding of the mechanisms regulating WAT formation is important as this could lead to the development of new therapeutic avenues to modulate WAT size, distribution and function and to reduce the negative consequences of obesity.