Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » Common Virus May Contribute to Obesity

August 20, 2007

Common Virus May Contribute to Obesity

Infection with human adenovirus-36 (Ad-36) seems to direct adult stem cells from fat tissue to turn into fat cells, researchers have found in lab experiments. Stem cells not exposed to the virus, in contrast, were unchanged. More importantly, the researchers have identified the specific gene in the virus that appears to be involved in this obesity-promoting effect: E4Orfl.

The field of research investigating the role of viruses in obesity — dubbed “infectobesity” — is still relatively new and experimental. Researchers don’t believe that infection with one of these pathogens is the sole cause of obesity but they say some obesity cases may involve viral infections.

by curiouscat Tags: Health Care, Life Science, Research
Permalink to: Common Virus May Contribute to Obesity Trackback: http://engineering.curiouscatblog.net/2007/08/20/common-virus-may-contribute-to-obesity/trackback/

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