Scientists have found a genetic link between a particular blood group and being overweight. This gives us new ideas for possible solutions.
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The Discovery of SMIM1 and Its Role in Obesity: A Common Drug Could be Used to Treat It
A groundbreaking study led by the University of Exeter found that people who don't have the SMIM1 gene are more likely to be overweight or obese. This gene identifies the Vel blood group.
The SMIM1 gene was only found ten years ago in the search for the gene that codes for the Vel blood group. According to a new study, people with a genetic trait that turns off the SMIM1 gene tend to be heavier because they use less energy at rest.
Dr. Mattia Frontini, Associate Professor of Cell Biology at the University of Exeter Medical School, said these results are significant because the number of fat people has almost tripled in the last 50 years and is expected to reach more than a billion by 2030. He said that learning about genetic factors like the SMIM1 variant can help make focused treatments and lessen the shame that comes with being overweight.
The study team, which included researchers from the University of Cambridge, the Sanger Institute, Copenhagen University, and Lund University, thinks that a commonly used drug for thyroid problems could help treat obesity in people who don't have both copies of the SMIM1 gene. This idea comes from the fact that these people are overweight and show other signs of obesity, such as having high blood fat levels, signs that fat tissue isn't working right, higher liver enzyme levels, and lower thyroid hormone levels.
Dr. Luca Stefanucci of the University of Cambridge, who wrote the first part of the study, talked about how this treatment might help. He said he hoped people with these genes could get the care and information they need now that we have access to more DNA data and a better understanding of how SMIM1 works.
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Essential Lessons and More Research to Come
The study examined genetic information from almost 500,000 people in the UK Biobank group and found that 104 had a variant that stopped the SMIM1 gene from working. The link between the gene variant and weight gain was found in four more groups, with affected females gaining an average of 4.6 kg and affected males gaining 2.4 kilograms.
Adjunct Professor at Lund University and co-author Jill Storry was excited about what this finding could mean for other areas of science. It was fascinating for her to learn that SMIM1, which was first known for its role in blood groups, also has a role in metabolism in a broader sense.
Professor Ole Pedersen of the University of Copenhagen agreed and said that the whole team is excited about how this new information could help people with this genetic makeup.
This study, published in Med and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the British Heart Foundation, shows how important it is to look into the genetic reasons for obesity. That way, it's easier to find medicines that work, and it costs less for healthcare services to treat obesity-related diseases.
As the number of obese people worldwide grows, learning more about how the SMIM1 gene affects obesity could lead to better treatments. Researchers hope that by investigating the genetic reasons for obesity, they may develop more individualized and successful ways to treat people, possibly even new ways to use existing medications.
This study helps us understand how complex genetic variables regulate obesity. It could potentially result in novel treatments that improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.
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