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We often hear about obesity and overweight and how this increases the risk for various diseases. But isn’t it remarkable that a process starting with the accumulation of fat tissue due to a chronically disrupted energy balance can lead to so many issues in organs outside of the adipose tissue?
Therefore, current research is trying to understand how fat tissue, which changes and grows during overweight, can communicate.
During this event, we will hear two researchers talking about how fat can signal to other sides, regarding liver diseases and insulin sensitivity.
Therefore, current research is trying to understand how fat tissue, which changes and grows during overweight, can communicate.
During this event, we will hear two researchers talking about how fat can signal to other sides, regarding liver diseases and insulin sensitivity.
Fat-messages in bubbles: connecting obesity and insulin resistance
Lisa Mennens
(Joint PhD candidate)
Rather recently, researchers found what we now call extracellular vesicles. These vesicles are very tiny cell bubbles of only a few nanometers in diameter and can transport messages between cells and tissues. The adipose tissue plays a fundamental role in the communication between organs in order to maintain a healthy state. However, in obesity, this communication gets disturbed and our fat-derived messages will start to spread disease-stimulating information. Therefore, our research is focused on investigating the messages sent by our adipose cells and how they are related to the development of obesity-related diseases like type 2 diabetes. Since these cell bubbles are able to cross the border to all organs within our bodies, this project aims to open up the road for more personalized treatment and prevention options in obesity. The possibilities are endless, but first things first: Let’s unravel the messages inside our adipose bubbles.
When fat talks, the liver listens.
Sabine Daemen
(Post Doc)
Obesity isn’t just about carrying extra weight - it can have serious consequences for vital organs like the liver. One of the key players in this process is the immune system.
Sabine Daemen obtained her PhD from Maastricht University by investigating how muscle fat contributes to insulin resistance. During a Postdoc at Washington University in St. Louis, she started to focus on obesity associated liver pathology as research has shown that immune cells in obese fat tissue send signals to the liver that can trigger inflammation and scarring. She described for the first time subpopulations of immune cell types during liver pathologies. In 2022, Sabine moved back to Maastricht to study further the way these fat-derived signals interact with liver cells, hoping to discover new treatment targets and improve outcomes for those suffering from obesity-related liver disease.
Sabine Daemen obtained her PhD from Maastricht University by investigating how muscle fat contributes to insulin resistance. During a Postdoc at Washington University in St. Louis, she started to focus on obesity associated liver pathology as research has shown that immune cells in obese fat tissue send signals to the liver that can trigger inflammation and scarring. She described for the first time subpopulations of immune cell types during liver pathologies. In 2022, Sabine moved back to Maastricht to study further the way these fat-derived signals interact with liver cells, hoping to discover new treatment targets and improve outcomes for those suffering from obesity-related liver disease.
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