KAIST Identifies New Obesity Treatment Strategy to Reduce Adipose Tissue

2024-07-30

A research team, including Prof. Jaemyung Seo and Prof. Daesik Lim from KAIST, has
identified a new treatment strategy for metabolic disorders that reduces the physical size of
adipose tissue and body weight by converting adipocytes into stem cells. This approach offers

a method for controlling metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Adipose tissue
serves as a storage site for excess calories in the form of fat and secreting hormones as an
endocrine organ. The research team focused on the YAP/TAZ proteins in the Hippo signaling
pathway. Through this, they identified the involvement of YAP/TAZ in the regulation of
adipose tissue size, leptin hormone production, and changes in the activity state of the
YAP/TAZ proteins. KAIST stated that this research presents new possibilities for innovative
obesity and metabolic disease treatment development.

Source: https://www.daejonilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2140467