Fat Tissue Curbs Insulin and Extends Life in Fruit Flies
Graded Preliminary — controlled experiments in fruit flies using targeted gene changes; whether the findings carry over to people has not been tested.
Animal study. Findings may not carry over to people, which is why the grade is capped at Preliminary.
- Design
- Animal study
- Participants
- —
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- ANPCyT (Argentina's national research promotion agency)
In fruit flies, a signal from fat tissue holds back insulin release in the brain, and this extends their lifespan.
Fruit flies lived markedly longer when an enzyme called Dicer-1 was turned down in their fat tissue. Dicer-1 makes microRNAs, tiny snippets of genetic material that tune how strongly genes are used. The gain in lifespan was about as large as the one flies get from eating less. Combining the two added even more time. The flies also survived a cell poison better.
The researchers mainly studied male flies carrying only one working copy of the gene. In other flies, they lowered the gene only in the fat body, the insect organ that does the work of fat tissue and liver. The trail led to the brain. Less Dicer-1 meant less of one microRNA, miR-8, in the fat body. The fat body then made more of an insulin-like hormone. That hormone held back the brain's release of another insulin-like hormone. When the team made the brain's insulin-producing cells make extra of that hormone, the longer life disappeared.
All of this was found in flies. Whether people have a similar route was not tested. The authors also say other microRNAs may play a part.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.