Recent studies have shown that bone has an endocrine function that activates glucose and lipid metabolism throughout the body.A protein called osteocalcin (OC) in the bone is responsible for this function. Of the OCs, the one that has a function as a hormone is called GluOC.

　So far, the research group has analyzed and verified the effect of GluOC on sugar and lipid metabolism.As a result, it was found that low-concentration GluOC has the effect of enhancing the expression of "adiponectin", which is a hormone that activates glucose and lipid metabolism in adipocytes.We have clarified the signal pathway leading to its expression.

　In the course of this study, it was found that when the concentration of GluOC was increased, the amount of adiponectin secreted apparently decreased, and at that time, about 3% of adipocytes died.By analyzing this signal pathway that induces cell death, adipocytes on which GluOC acts enhance the expression of adiponectin and acquire favorable properties for metabolism, but at the same time, the expression of factors that induce cell death is expressed on the cell membrane. It was found to enhance and induce cell death of adjacent adipocytes.In other words, it was found that GluOC does not kill all adipocytes, but reduces the number of adipocytes by thinning them out, and many surviving adipocytes become highly metabolically active.

　The results of this research are expected to be a new pharmacological approach to "obesity," which is the root of the metabolic syndrome that has become a social problem.

Paper information:[Cell Death & Disease] Osteocalcin triggers Fas / FasL-mediated necroptosis in adipocytes via activation of p300