Removing a specific gene from fat tissue could fool the body into speeding up metabolism and burning more calories, a new study has found. It is hoped that the research, led by scientists at Nottingham Trent University and the University of Edinburgh, could help pave the way for protecting against the metabolic diseases that often come with obesity, such as type 2 diabetes. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications .
The study focused on the gene "PHD2" which is found at high levels in brown adipose tissue , a type of body fat that is activated in cold temperatures to help keep us warm. Brown fat helps the body to burn calories , breaking down blood sugar and fat molecules to create heat and maintain body temperature. The research was prompted by the idea that people often lose weight and have a faster metabolic rate in higher altitudes, where it is cooler and there is low oxygen .
As such, the team focused their work on PHD2, which works as an oxygen sensor for the body and plays an important role in the regulation of brown fat. By removing the gene in the brown fat of mice , the researchers discovered that they were able to mimic the high altitude effect on fat and make the tissue believe it was hypoxic—when lower levels of oxygen reach the tissue. Importantly, the researchers were able to achieve this effect in a warm environment under conditions where brown fat is normally suppressed.
The study showed that, despite eating significantly more, the mice w.