Is Gene Expression Linked to Obesity?
Endocrinology Advisor, November 01, 2016
Increased expression of the THNSL2 gene can be linked to lower energy expenditure and is predictive of weight gain, according to research presented at Obesity Week 2016 in the United States.
Researchers from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) were the first to identify a specific genetic pathway in our muscle tissue that we may be able to harness to develop new treatments for obesity, which Dr Piaggi said in a press release.
“We know that there are ties between our genes and energy expenditure, and this study offers several potentially important extensions that work, in particular, by implicating a specific pathway for treatment,” added Anthony Comuzzie, PhD, of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and Obesity Society spokesperson.
Dr Piaggi and colleagues also noted that energy expenditure and body weight are heritable traits.
“The research brings us one step closer to better understanding the variation in weight gain among individuals,” Dr Comuzzie concluded.