Exosomes derived from very obese patients' fat send wrong signals throughout body
A research team led by Robert J. Freishtat, M.D., M.P.H., chief of emergency medicine at Children's National Health System, is exploring possible links between extra belly fat and obesity-related diseases, such as atherosclerosis, buildup of plaque in arteries that can harden and restrict blood flow. More precise knowledge of the mechanisms by which obesity ratchets up heart risks holds the promise of helping the next generation of kids avoid experiencing chronic disease. The working theory is that exosomes derived from belly fat from obese patients carry a distinct ability to accelerate biological processes that lead to atherosclerosis. Dr. Freishtat will present preliminary findings from a study involving 10 patients during the 2017 annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies. The research team isolated exosomes from five obese teenagers and compared them with five sex-matched lean adolescents. Turns out exosomes derived from fat pick up their marching orders from m...