Novel metabolic pathway that affects quality of visceral fat-derived stem cells

What is it about?

By genome-wide gene expression analysis of fat (adipose) stem cells from visceral versus subcutaneous fat, we discovered a novel metabolic pathway regulated by retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A. We found that excessive retinoic acid likely resulting from developmental origin block normal adipocyte differentiation of visceral adipose stem cells.

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Why is it important?

By modulating retinoic acid pathway, we may be able to improve adipogenic defects found in visceral adipose stem cells, and thus potentially visceral obesity.