Hormone involved in maturation of fat cells discovered

Researchers at Stanford University have identified a hormone that is involved with the maturation of fat cells. These findings help us understand why some stem cells differentiate into fat cells. The hormone itself is called Adamts1. It is produced by mature fat cells and is the switch for stem cells to begin the process of turning into fat cells; high-fat diets and glucocorticoid medications increase the production of Adamts1. The researchers firstly identified Adamts1 and then conducted experiments in both mice and humans. It was found that when mice and humans were fed a high fat diet, most of the increase in fat was seen in the visceral tissue, where there was a decreased amount of Adamts1.

The study’s findings suggest that there are many other hormones involved with the production and differentiation of fat cells, furthermore the researchers believe that stress must play an important role in this process. It remains to be seen whether Adamts1 could be used as a target for obesity medication, and more research must be undertaken in order to fully understand its role within the body