WCM-Q researchers study the role of proteins in obesity

WCM-Q researchers study the role of proteins in obesity

A study of proteins circulating in the bloodstream has identified several proteins that may play a causal role in obesity, making them potential targets for drugs and therapies. Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar examined more than 1,000 proteins in samples taken from individuals in Qatar as part of the Qatar Metabolomics Study on Diabetes, alongside data from European studies. In total, more than 4,600 individuals were involved in the three previous studies. The work was conducted in collaboration with the German Research Center for Environmental Health. Using genetics to isolate the relevant proteins, they found that six proteins had a causal relationship with body mass index, even when other lifestyle factors were taken into consideration. Three of those proteins were found to contribute towards obesity, and at the same time, reflect the biological mechanisms resulting from increased body mass index.