News Releases & Research Results Membrane protein PGRMC1 promotes obesity by facilitating lipid accumulation

The results of the research project conducted by Associate Professor Yasuaki Kabe and Professor Makoto Suematsu of the Department of Biochemistry and Assistant Professor Ryogo Furuhata of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, and others.

• Through experimental differentiation of mouse adipocyte precursor cells and analysis of obesity model mice, the research group discovered that the heme-binding membrane protein progesterone receptor membrane associated component 1 (PGRMC1) enhances lipid accumulation in adipocytes, thereby strongly contributing to weight gain induced by a high-fat diet and the growth of autologous adipose tissues.
• The results of this research project should facilitate the development of novel anti-obesity drugs targeting the functional regulation of "PGRMC1" as well as the establishment of treatment strategies for metabolic syndrome.

This program was conducted with support of the Advanced Research & Development Program for Medical Innovation by AMED.

The results of this research project were published online in Communications Biology, a scientific journal published by the Nature Publishing Group, ahead of print on September 4.

Furuhata R., et al.  Progesterone receptor membrane associated component 1 enhances obesity progression in mice by facilitating lipid accumulation in adipocytes Communications Biology
DOI：10.1038/s42003-020-01202-x