Gene Suppression May Boost Metabolism

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When food intake is substantially reduced, the liver typically switches from burning carbohydrates to oxidizing fatty acids for energy. However, when the PLVAP (PV-1) gene was removed in a research study at the University of Southern Denmark, this metabolic transition stalled, and the liver continued to rely on carbs instead of burning fat, which depleted the carbohydrate reserves.

Historically, the PLVAP gene was only associated with endothelial cell function, which plays a key role in managing blood flow, delivering nutrients, and regulating inflammation. Endothelial cells also support tissue homeostasis, maintaining stability within tissue by regulating metabolism. These findings highlighted the gene's critical role in burning fatty acids during starvation or calorie restriction.

However, mice without the PV-1 gene showed continued carbohydrate utilization, with fat being redirected to muscles rather than the liver. Interestingly, these mice appeared to have no adverse effects from this altered metabolism and adapted effectively to the change in fuel usage. For overweight humans, manipulating this process could help the liver maintain optimal metabolic activity for weight loss by tricking the liver into burning fuel as usual during calorie deficits.

NOTE: The University of Southern Denmark’s PLVAP study on metabolism was initially published in the journal Cell Metabolism. The team of research scientists included Daniel Hansen, Jasmin Jensen, Christian Andersen, Peter Jakobsgaard, Jesper Havelund, Line Lauritsen, Samuel Mandacaru, Majken Siersbæk, Oliver Shackleton, Jonathan Brewer, Blagoy Blagoev, Nils Færgeman, and Kim Ravnskjær (all from SDU). Collaborators from Japan, the USA, and Finland. Danish scientists suggest that targeting the PV-1 gene could be key to overcoming common barriers by offering new hope for those with significant weight-loss goals.

How Cells Trigger Metabolic Changes

Since PLVAP suppression allows the liver to maintain its ability to burn sugar and oxidize fat, researchers may enhance the overall effectiveness of prescription weight-loss medications. By mimicking glucagon-like peptide-1, these revolutionary drugs reduce food intake by mimicking the effects of fasting, but troublesome weight-loss plateaus can still occur due to the body’s slowed metabolic processes.

Targeting the PLVAP gene could overcome this hurdle, allowing individuals to continue losing weight beyond the typical plateau. Danish researchers uncovered fascinating insights beyond PV-1's ability to fool the liver into sensing the body is not fasting. Such advancements could serve as a complementary solution to existing medical weight-loss drugs and offer new hope to obese and overweight individuals with significant weight loss goals.

This revelation highlights a previously unknown role of stellate cells in regulating liver metabolism by directing other cell types, introducing a novel pathway for cell-to-cell communication. Interestingly, while fat was redirected to muscles instead of the liver, the mice displayed no negative effects. On the contrary, they showed improved insulin sensitivity and reduced blood sugar levels. This offers new insights into future management of obesity, metabolic diseases, and fatty liver disease.

Kickstart Your Journey for Weight Control

The use of prescriptive receptor agonists has created new options for the team at the medical weight loss clinic Fayetteville. These medications offer a brand new set of handy tools to both enhance blood sugar control and promote weight loss that can lead to improved overall health and wellbeing. MRC’s compounded medications slows gastric emptying to allow food to stay in your stomach longer, which manages cravings to reduce overall daily food intake.

Unfortunately, weight loss often reaches a plateau, and one reason is that excessively cutting calories can push your body into "starvation mode." This natural response slows your metabolism and causes fat to be stored rather than burned. The liver, however, is a key metabolic organ that continues to work even during fasting periods. Normally, once glycogen stores are depleted, the body shifts to burning fat for fuel and the liver produces ketone as a fuel source.

Together, these mechanisms ensure the body maintains a steady energy supply but the reduction of food intake can cause the body to alter the liver’s function to prevent starvation. But, the recent PLVAP study suggests there may be ways to continue burning carbs during periods of fasting. Visit us at MRC Fayetteville to see how our experienced team can help you. All it takes is a quick email or phone call to learn more and get a free consultation as your first step toward wellness.