Research reveals fat cell growth triggers

MELBOURNE scientists have uncovered the genetic secrets of why some women suffer uncontrollable fat growth, raising hopes drugs may be able to overcome a debilitating chronic condition.

The world-first St Vincent’s Institute discovery has identified an abnormal stem cell involved in lipedema as well as a gene that causes its sufferers’ fat cells to multiply in a similar way to cancer cells.

Lipedema has not previously been recognised as a specific disease, but considered as a form of obesity most commonly affecting the legs and hips of about 11 per cent of women.

However, a five-year study led by Tara Karnezis and her husband Ramin Shayan identified vastly different cells involved in lipedema than in classic obesity, which may now be used as the basis of a screening test and drugs to target the condition’s uncontrolled growth of fat.

In further good news for sufferers, the SVI-led team were also able to adapt a new experimental drug designed to stop the growth of cancer cells to block a protein on lipedema cells and stop abnormal fat growth during lab tests.

After analysing samples from 14 Melbourne lipedema patients and 10 obese patients, the Melbourne researchers found significant differences in gene expression, tissue makeup, adipose-derived stem cells and other key elements.

Their results were published in the International Journal of Obesity

Professor Shayan said the researchers were now pushing to develop a diagnostic screening test for lipedema, and an animal model to test drugs with a potential to target the protein Bub1 and halt the disease.

If preclinical-clinical trials were successful the researchers would then plan for human trials in about five years’ time.