ACS Logo Fat cells are the building blocks of excess weight, the earnings of cheesecake or just the sacks of added kilos that usually make most of us more than what we can fit into our pants. Experts now share that the fat tissue in the spare parts and lower belly may be an active organ that sends chemical signals to other parts of the body, thereby augmenting the risk of heart attacks, cancer and other diseases.

Scientists share discovery of 20 new hormones and other substances which were not previously known to be secreted into the blood of human fat cells. They also evaluated if fat secretes several hormones and chemical messengers.

Experts identified that additional body fat may have the ability to contribute to heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other diseases. They share that people initially thought that fat cells were inert storage depots for excess calories. However, analyses have revealed that fall cell may secrete specific hormones and other substances similar to how other organs function in the human body.

Scientists highlighted that among these hormones leptin manages appetite and adiponectin apparently stimulates the body to be more sensitive to insulin and controls blood sugar levels. They have minimal knowledge about several proteins which are produced by numerous fat cells in the adult body.

They further observed that 80 different proteins were produced by fat cells. These proteins included six new proteins and 20 proteins that have not been initially identified in human fat cells. Experts conclude by saying that these findings may put forth better understanding of the role that hormone-secreting fat cells play in heart disease, diabetes and other diseases.

These findings were published in ACS’ monthly Journal of Proteome Research.