Missing Protein Keeps Mice Slim, Even on a High-Fat Diet (IMAGE)
Caption
A study in The American Journal of Pathology found that mice with a CD44 protein deficiency remain slim, despite being on a high-fat diet. The image depicts the working model for the study. The intracellular domain of CD44 (CD44-ICD) stimulates the expression of tryptophan 5-hydroxylase 2 (Tph2) in white adipocytes, leading to the production of serotonin (5-HT). This 5-HT, in turn, promotes adipogenesis within white adipose tissue. Consequently, the loss of CD44 disrupts this pathway, repressing adipogenesis and thereby protecting mice from high-fat diet–induced obesity. This model underscores the critical role of CD44 in regulating adipogenesis and metabolic health.
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The American Journal of Pathology
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