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Researchers have discovered a significant increase in the levels of Kallistatin, a protein linked to improved metabolism, in the subcutaneous white adipose tissue of individuals after weight loss. This breakthrough finding, explored through both clinical and animal studies, suggests Kallistatin as a promising target for future treatments of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The study’s results were recently published in the journal Molecular Metabolism.
The Study’s Key Findings
A team from the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of Helmholtz Munich at the Eberhard-Karls-University of Tübingen, and the Department of Diabetology, Endocrinology, and Nephrology at the University Hospital Tübingen spearheaded the research. They examined Kallistatin expression in subcutaneous white adipose tissue in 47 individuals with overweight to obesity, both before and after weight loss. The results indicated a significant increase in Kallistatin expression post-weight loss.
Kallistatin and Its Metabolic Impact
Kallistatin, known for its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, has now been linked to enhanced glucose metabolism. In animal models, the researchers demonstrated that human Kallistatin improves hepatic insulin sensitivity in diet-induced obese mice. This discovery underlines the potential of Kallistatin as a therapeutic target, especially for those struggling with obesity and insulin resistance.
“Our results suggest that Kallistatin may be an interesting, yet challenging, therapeutic target for people with obesity and insulin resistance,” stated lead author Leontine Sandforth. Prof. Andreas Birkenfeld, the study’s senior author, added, “Because Kallistatin has insulin-sensitizing effects in the liver, it should be investigated as a potential liver-specific target for emulating the beneficial effects of weight loss and potentially treating type 2 diabetes and obesity.”
Implications for Future Therapies
The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity, complex and multifaceted diseases, necessitates innovative therapeutic approaches. This research positions Kallistatin as a novel and promising avenue for such treatments, aiming to harness its metabolic benefits to counteract the detrimental effects of obesity and diabetes.
For more details, refer to the study: “Role of human Kallistatin in glucose and energy homeostasis in mice” by Leontine Sandforth et al., published in Molecular Metabolism, DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101905.
