INHERENT ABNORMALITIES OF FAT-CELLS FROM MASSIVELY OBESE INDIVIDUALS

In vitro investigations into adipose cell dynamics have revealed intri nsic characteristics of massively obese individuals' cells that could contribute to a relatively intractable expanded fat mass. Morbidly cor pulent peoples' preadipocytes replicate to a greater degree than those from lean individuals. Coupled with exaggerated differentiation this enhanced growth would result in a greater number of fat cells which wo uld increase adipose tissue mass. The relative resistance to de-differ entiation that adipocytes from the massively obese demonstrate would c ontribute to stability of an Increased number of adipocytes further ex acerbating the problem. The increased message of an energy sensing pro tein, the obese gene product, suggests that the morbidly obese are ins ensitive to its action. Together these attributes provide a strong arg ument for a significant genetic role in the pathogenesis of obesity.