Khaberni - A recent study has shown that a lack of a specific type of specialized adipose tissue can sharply raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
It has long been known that being overweight can lead to high blood pressure. However, the biological mechanism behind this link has remained unclear until now.
In this context, a team from Rockefeller University in New York studied the effect of a specific type of adipose tissue, called beige fat, on regulating blood pressure. This fat, similar to brown fat in humans, helps the body burn energy and convert food into heat, and is activated when exposed to cold, contributing to warming the body. It is usually found in the neck, upper back, around the kidneys, and the spinal cord.
The study showed that the loss of beige fat in genetically modified mice made their blood vessels more sensitive to pressure signals, leading to increased blood pressure. The researchers found that the fat surrounding the blood vessels began to transform into white fat, secreting hormones such as angiotensinogen, known for its role in raising blood pressure.
Early signs of heart damage also appeared, including the buildup of stiff connective tissue around blood vessels, reducing their elasticity and hindering their natural expansion and contraction. Single cell analysis revealed that the absence of beige fat stimulates a genetic program that promotes the formation of fibrous tissue, forcing the heart to pump blood more forcefully.
The researchers confirmed that fat cells lacking in beige fat produce an enzyme called QSOX1, which stimulates a chain of reactions leading to high blood pressure, whereas beige fat typically inhibits the production of this enzyme. The team also observed that patients who have mutations in the PDM16 gene — responsible for activating QSOX1 in mice — also tend to have high blood pressure, suggesting that the findings may apply to humans.
Dr. Paul Cohen, the lead researcher of the study, said: "The more we understand these molecular links, the closer we come to developing treatments tailored to the medical and molecular characteristics of each individual."
