A new study shows that when cellular processes in the body activate autophagy, unneeded components are released into the bodyFat tissue broken downbecome. When activated, the researchers localized the autophagy protein Beclin 1 in adiponectin in fat cells to facilitate their secretion. According to the study authors, this could help treat diabetes.
How human cells can activate autophagy themselves
Beclin 1 is a protein that promotes the process of autophagy. This brings sensitized cells to insulin through a metabolic pathway involving the hormone adiponectin. While certain aspects of the process require further study, researchers could use this mechanism to treat insulin resistance in diabetes. If there is something that mimics or improves the function of adiponectin, it could be therapeutically effective against diabetes, the study authors said. In normal organisms, Beclin 1 only becomes active under certain stressful conditions such as lack of nutrients or oxygen. However, the protein can also activate autophagy, recycling dysfunctional cell structures and hopefully alleviating the stressors that triggered the process in the first place. In the current study, the scientists examined the blood of mice with activated Beclin 1.
The team found that the lab mice had high levels of adiponectin. According to the study authors, this hormone, which is secreted from fatty tissue, helps activate the metabolic pathway. So this is a general regulator that can support metabolism. However, knocking out the receptor of adiponectin prevented activation of metabolism and subsequent sensitization of the insulin response. Therefore, the researchers tried to investigate the exact mechanism. In the mutant mice with increased autophagy, there was much more “free” Beclin 1. As a result, they produced much more of the protein that translocates into adiponectin. This secretion in the blood facilitates and improves insulin sensitivity. Factors such as intermittent fasting and increased exercise could also promote this process. The ideathis studyis that people who fast intermittently orDo sports if you have diabetes, which activate autophagy in fat earlier than in other parts of the body, which may be metabolically advantageous.
