天美传媒

Abstract

Overweight is one of the major problems of modern day societies. Although weight reduction is fairly easy, maintenance of the
reduced weight is the true challenge. Research has mainly focussed on psychosocial factors as a cause for weight regain, but also
biological factors may play a role. We are investigating the possibility that adipocytes act as driving force behind weight regain after
weight loss. Mature adipocytes are surrounded by a strong extracellular matrix (ECM). When adipocytes shrink during weight loss,
the ECM should adjust in parallel. However, under conditions of energy restriction, this process is hampered, leading to mechanical
stress between the adipocyte and the surrounding ECM. We hypothesize that this adipocyte cellular stress is a promoter of weight
regain. Using genetic variation in 124 ECM genes as part of the pan-European DiOGenes GWAS, association was found between the
risk for weight regain and five ECM genes. In addition, we quantified eight stress proteins in adipose tissue and found some of them
to be significantly increased in persons who regained weight, but not in persons who remained weight stable. Together this supports
our hypothesis. Moreover, we found that adipocytes during weight loss or shortly thereafter, increase their capacity for fat uptake and
storage. A model for weight regain will be presented in which adipocytes try to get rid of their cellular stress by lowering the secretion
of leptin to induce food intake by the host followed by re-filling of the adipocytes. As a consequence the host will regain weight.

Biography

Edwin C M Mariman completed his PhD in 1983 at the University of Nijmegen. In 1985, he was appointed as Senior Scientist at the Department of Human Genetics. In
1990, he became Head of the Research Division of Multifactorial Disorders. From 1995, he was Head of the Medical DNA-diagnostics Division. In 2001, he moved to the
University of Maastricht as full Professor of Functional Genetics to study molecular and genetic aspects of obesity. He is coordinator of the Maastricht Proteomics Center,
member of the committee for NWO-TOP grants, Editorial Board Member of several journals, (co)author of about 200 peer-reviewed articles.