MSGID: 1:317/3 6476cdba   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Researchers design an innovative strategy to fight obesity through gene   
   therapy    
      
     Date:   
         May 30, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of Barcelona   
     Summary:   
         A scientific team has designed a strategy to fight obesity and   
         diabetes in mice through ex vivo gene therapy which consists of   
         implanting cells that have been manipulated and transformed in   
         order to treat a disease.   
      
         This is the first study to apply the ex vivo gene therapy technique   
         to generate and implant cells that express the CPT1AM protein,   
         an enzyme that plays a decisive role in many metabolic diseases   
         such as obesity.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
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   A scientific team from the University of Barcelona and the CIBERobn   
   has designed a strategy to fight obesity and diabetes in mice through   
   ex vivo gene therapy which consists of implanting cells that have been   
   manipulated and transformed in order to treat a disease. This is the   
   first study to apply the ex vivo gene therapy technique to generate and   
   implant cells that express the CPT1AM protein, an enzyme that plays a   
   decisive role in many metabolic diseases such as obesity.   
      
   The study, published in the journal Metabolic Engineering, is led by   
   Professor Laura Herrero, from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences   
   and the Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB),   
   and from the Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition Networking   
   Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERobn).   
      
   Cell therapy describes the process of introducing new cells into a tissue   
   in order to fight a disease. Cell therapies are currently focused on   
   addressing hereditary diseases -- with and without the help of gene   
   therapy -- or degenerative diseases.   
      
   "In this new therapy, animal models have been implanted subcutaneously   
   stem cells derived from adipose tissue, differentiated into adipocytes,   
   so that they can express an active form of the CPT1AM protein, an enzyme   
   located in the mitochondria that is key in lipid oxidation and is related   
   to metabolic diseases," says Laura Herrero, a member of the UB Department   
   of Biochemistry and Physiology.   
      
   "As a result, in obese mice, it has been possible to reduce weight,   
   fatty liver (hepatic steatosis), cholesterol and glucose levels. In   
   conclusion, the implantation of adipocytes expressing the mitochondrial   
   enzyme CPT1AM helps to reduce obesity and glucose intolerance in mice."   
   As the cell transformation process takes place outside the body of the   
   organism, this type of therapy is much easier to carry out and allows   
   for greater control of the altered cells.   
      
   Obesity and cell therapy Obesity and associated metabolic disorders   
   represent a worldwide health and social problem, which is why new   
   therapeutic approaches are urgently needed.   
      
   Adipose tissue plays a key role in regulating energy balance, and adipose-   
   derived mesenchymal stem cells -- cells with the ability for self-renewal   
   - - have gained interest in cell therapy.   
      
   "Specifically, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) is the enzyme   
   that controls mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Our aim was to generate   
   adipocytes that could express a constitutively active form of CPT1A --   
   CPT1AM -- capable of burning excess fat and improving the obese metabolic   
   phenotype of mice after implantation."  The results of the new study   
   support the future clinical use of this ex vivo gene therapy approach as   
   a new strategy to reduce obesity and cholesterol rates in the population.   
      
   This preclinical study could open the doors to future therapeutic   
   strategies to address the treatment of obesity, which today represents   
   a global health problem.   
      
   "To approximate the therapy in humans, we need to optimize several   
   processes such as the quality and viability of stem cells from adipose   
   tissue isolated from people with obesity, the percentage of infection   
   with lentivirus, and the number of cells used for transplantation,"   
   concludes researcher Laura Herrero.   
      
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Health_&_Medicine   
                   # Gene_Therapy # Obesity # Stem_Cells #   
                   Diet_and_Weight_Loss # Diseases_and_Conditions #   
                   Immune_System # Fitness # Personalized_Medicine   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Gene_therapy o BRCA1 o Obesity o Embryonic_stem_cell   
             o Stem_cell o Personalized_medicine o Vector_(biology)   
             o Adult_stem_cell   
      
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   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Barcelona. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. M Carmen Soler-Va'zquez, Mari'a del Mar Romero, Marijana Todorcevic,   
         Katia Delgado, Carles Calatayud, Aleyda Benitez -Amaro,   
         Maria Teresa La Chica Lhoe"st, Paula Mera, Sebastia'n Zagmutt,   
         Marianela Basti'as-Pe'rez, Kevin Ibeas, Nu'ria Casals, Joan Carles   
         Escola`-Gil, Vicenta Llorente- Corte's, Antonella Consiglio, Dolors   
         Serra, Laura Herrero. Implantation of CPT1AM-expressing adipocytes   
         reduces obesity and glucose intolerance in mice. Metabolic   
         Engineering, 2023; 77: 256 DOI: 10.1016/ j.ymben.2023.04.010   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230530125435.htm   
      
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