Obesity and gender
Scientists have explained why men are more likely to suffer from obesity
Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+
According to the findings of Australian researchers, it's all about the special structure of male adipose tissue, which is especially prone to inflammation. Although the work was carried out on rodents, the authors believe that a similar mechanism is characteristic of humans.
The risk of a number of diseases depends on gender. For example, women are more prone to autoimmune diseases in which immune cells attack healthy tissues. At the same time, men are more likely to be diagnosed with metabolic disorders. This makes them more vulnerable to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Researchers from the University of Melbourne decided to answer the question of why men are more likely than women to suffer from metabolic diseases. To do this, they conducted a thorough analysis of the fat of mice, in which, like us, males are at greater risk of obesity.
Article by Vasanthakumar et al. Sex-specific adipose tissue imprinting of regulatory T cells is published in the journal Nature, the press release Finding the sex factor in immunity can be read on the website of the University – VM.
The authors isolated and examined each type of cells found in adipose tissue. As a result, it turned out that in the fat of males three to four times more often than in females, there are immune cells of a certain type - the so–called regulatory T-lymphocytes. They play an important role in the regulation of inflammation.
The finding turned out to be quite unexpected, since the study of other organs involved in the work of the immune system did not reveal sex differences in the content of regulatory T-lymphocytes.
The authors attribute the difference in the concentration of these immune cells to the fact that a unique type of stem cells reacting to testosterone is present in the adipose tissue of males. They can influence the development and reproduction of cells of the immune system.
The researchers also found that the adipose tissue of males contains much more pro–inflammatory cytokines - molecules that serve to transmit signals and play an important role in the emergence of an immune response. According to scientists, this feature of the structure of the adipose tissue of males makes it more prone to the development of inflammation. This explains why males are more prone to obesity and metabolic problems. At the same time, the increased level of regulatory T-lymphocytes should be considered an adaptation that is aimed at containing inflammation.
Researchers believe that similar mechanisms are characteristic of humans. If the hypothesis is confirmed, then we will have to admit that the immune system of men and women works differently. This will require a new approach to drug discovery and testing.
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