This is partly due to people's reliance on high-calorie foods and sedentary lifestyles.
In this regard, a new study focuses on the gaseous molecule nitric oxide, which affects the functions of several organs in the body through its binding to proteins. Studies have shown that an increase or decrease in the binding of nitric oxide to vital proteins can cause a variety of diseases.
In the study, researchers from Case Western Reserve University Hospitals discovered a new enzyme called SCoR2 that removes nitric oxide from proteins that control fat accumulation. The team found that removing nitric oxide activates fat production in the body, demonstrating that the SCoR2 enzyme is essential for fat formation.
The research team then inhibited SCoR2 using both genetic methods and a specific drug. Experiments on mice showed that this inhibition prevented weight gain, reduced liver damage, and lowered levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood.
Dr. Jonathan Stamler, lead author of the study and professor of medicine and biochemistry, explained: "We have developed a new class of drugs that prevent weight gain and lower cholesterol, which represents a promising treatment for obesity and heart disease, with added benefits for the liver."
He added: "In the liver, nitric oxide inhibits proteins responsible for the production of fats and cholesterol. In adipose tissue, it limits the activity of genes that produce enzymes responsible for fat formation."
The team now plans to move the drug to clinical trials, which are expected to take about 18 months, with the aim of confirming its effectiveness and safety in humans.
The study was published in the journal Science Signaling.
