Can a drug us lean and muscular?
Stay strong and lean as in the best years, and all this without any hard Training. What sounds like a utopia, it could ultimately be just a matter of activating the correct receptor. An international research team has discovered a new signaling pathway, whose activation has led to build up muscles and fat cells were burned.
A Team from the University of Bonn has discovered with researchers from Spain, Finland, Belgium, Denmark and the USA, a Receptor that regulates both muscle building as well as fat burning. In aging mice, the activation of this receptor led to the fact that the animals were as slender and strong as in their youth. The results of the study were recently presented in the prestigious scientific journal “Cell Metabolism”.
Obesity – a growing health problem
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Overweight and obesity are worldwide to a literally growing Problem. Particularly in advanced age, the muscles break down and fatty tissue deposits faster. Some people do it with sports and nutrition this effects counteract. However, many people do not succeed for various reasons. The recently discovered Receptor provides a new approach to help obese individuals lose weight and reduce the many health risks associated with high body weight.
What receptors are they?
On the surface of cells of numerous proteins or protein complexes are located to which certain signal molecules can be triggered to dock, which processes in the Interior of the cell. These surface proteins are called receptors. Such receptors are controlled in the body with numerous processes, which is why they are a good target for agents that mimic the natural signal molecules.
A new Receptor in the brown adipose tissue
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There are many different receptors in an organism and it is not yet known which Receptor brings what is the process. In the current study, the research team presents a new Receptor, called “A2B”. This Receptor is often on the cells in the brown adipose tissue. The brown adipose tissue is not provided in past studies for the console, since it stores different than white adipose tissue fat, but burns fat and produces heat.
A Receptor that makes you slim and strong
“We have seen in our publication, the A2B-receptors in brown adipose tissue more accurately”, explains Professor Dr. Alexander Pfeifer from the Institute of pharmacology and toxicology of the University hospital Bonn. The Team came across an interesting connection.
In mice, the trained more A2B receptors, increased the heat production of the animals. This could be attributed to an increased activity of brown fat cells. The animals were in comparison to conspecifics slimmer, weigh but not less, as they had at the same time more muscle mass.
Old mice were as fit as in youth
Like humans, mice with increasing age strengthens the muscles and fat pads. The researchers tested whether the newly discovered Receptor may be used by external activation to help the mice lose weight. They gave older mice a drug that activates the A2B Receptor.
The effect was astonishing: Within four weeks, the animals were significantly leaner and had a similar muscle mass as young animals. “The Receptor regulates both fat burning and muscle formation,” says study first-author Dr. Thorsten Gnad. The A2B activation resulted in less fat and more muscle mass, thus counteracting the two major aging effects.
Obesity leads to numerous health risks
“Every Kilo increases the risk of developing Diabetes but also the risk for hypertension, vascular damage and thus a heart attack and stroke,” emphasizes Pfeifer. With the years, shrinking muscles is exacerbating this Problem, because it reduces the total energy needs of the body. Add to this that the muscle wasting lowering the mobility of Senior citizens and thus the quality of life.
You can activate the Receptor in humans?
Since the findings were made in mice, it is currently unclear whether the results can be transmitted to humans. This will now be used in further studies found. In addition, there are, according to the researchers is as yet no approved drug that activates the A2B Receptor in humans. These hurdles must be overcome before the effect for the people can be harnessed. (vb)
Also read: Can be stopped ageing? Faulty proteins can age faster.