Progress to combat obesity is taking shape. A team of researchers seems to have found a unique solution based on nanoparticles.
These tiny capsules could help influence the way our body absorbs fat. An approach that could outperform current diets and medications.
Rather than reducing the amount of fat consumed, the researchers decided to block their absorption. How ? By targeting a enzyme specific to the digestive systemSOAT2.
This enzyme, sterol O-acyltransferase 2 (SOAT2), regulates the absorption of fats by facilitating their incorporation into intestinal cells. hail. When its action is blocked, the nanoparticles prevent the attachment of fats to intestinal cells, thus limiting their passage into the blood.
Blocking SOAT2 causes rapid degradation of the CD36 protein, which plays a critical role in transporting fatty acids across intestinal cells. This process is triggered by an enzyme called ligase E3 RNF5, which activates a CD36 destruction mechanism inside cells. By reducing the amount of CD36 available, the body absorbs less fat.
The central principle of this technique is based on the use of small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules transported by nanoparticles. These specifically target the SOAT2 enzyme in the small intestine, without disrupting the activity of other organs, particularly the liver. And this is a key point, because if SOAT2 were blocked in the liver, it would cause fat accumulation in that liver. BODIESwith associated health problems.
The first tests on mice gave impressive results. These animals, despite a diet rich in fat, did not gain weight thanks to the treatment. One of the great advantages of this therapy is its method of administration. A simple tablet would suffice, making the treatment more accessible and less invasive than current methods.
Tongji University researchers believe this approach could pave the way for new sustainable solutions against obesity. But before thinking about a human application, further tests on larger animals are necessary.
If this technology proves effective in humans, it could constitute a real breakthrough in the fight against obesity, a major public health problem.
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