Scientists believe they may have uncovered a key reason why obese people have a raised risk of health complications such as type 2 diabetes.
- They blame a specific protein - pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) - which is secreted by fat cells.
- The Australian and US research on mice suggests blocking some of PEDF's action may reverse some complications - raising hopes of new drug treatments.
- The study appears in the journal Cell Metabolism.
- The latest research shows that the protein sends a signal to other tissues in the body, triggering development of insulin resistance - a condition that often leads to type 2 diabetes - in the muscle and liver.
- Previous research had suggested that PEDF also protects against furring of the arteries and excessive blood vessel growth and helps keep the nervous system healthy.
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