A recent study conducted by Washington State University suggests that a person’s predisposition to gaining weight might be encoded in the molecular processes within their cells. In a proof-of-concept study involving 22 twins, researchers discovered an epigenetic “signature” in cheek cells that appeared exclusively in twins who were obese compared to their thinner siblings. If further research confirms these findings, it could lead to a straightforward cheek swab test for an obesity biomarker, allowing for earlier preventive measures for a condition that affects 50% of U.S. adults.
According to Michael Skinner, a WSU professor of biology and the study’s corresponding author, this research reveals that obesity is more intricate than just the consumption of food. It appears to involve a susceptibility for the disease and molecular markers associated with it. The study, which focused on twins, aimed to exclude genetic factors and emphasize epigenetics, which are molecular processes separate from DNA but influence gene expression.
The fact that the epigenetic signature was found in cheek cells, rather than fat cells, suggests that the obesity signature might be present throughout the human body. This systemic nature implies that something may have triggered obesity susceptibility early in one twin’s life, or it could have been inherited by one twin and not the other.
For the study, researchers identified 22 sets of twins, both identical and fraternal, where one twin was obese (BMI of 30 or higher) while the other fell within the normal BMI range (25 and below). Cheek swab samples were collected from the twins, and epigenetic changes related to DNA methylation regions were found in the cells of the obese twin siblings.
The researchers acknowledge that further research with larger sample sizes is needed to develop a reliable biomarker test for obesity. The ultimate goal is to identify individuals at risk of obesity early in life, enabling healthcare providers to intervene with lifestyle changes, medication, or other appropriate measures.
Source: news-medical