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The Concentration of Salivary Extracellular Vesicles Is Related to Obesity
A team of researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of Helmholtz Munich in Leipzig and the University of Leipzig has uncovered a significant connection between the concentration of salivary extracellular vesicles and key parameters of obesity. This discovery advances the understanding of how these tiny messengers might influence metabolism and eating behavior. The results were published in the scientific journal Nutrients.
Salivary extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny, membrane-bound particles released into saliva by cells. Measuring just 30 to 150 nanometers, these vesicles play a crucial role in cell communication by transporting bioactive molecules like proteins, lipids, and RNA, helping regulate various biological processes.
In a study involving 119 participants from the Obese Taste Bud Study, researchers around first author Kristin Röhrborn found that individuals with obesity exhibited significantly lower concentrations of salivary EVs. These lower levels were associated with increased body fat percentage, elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels, and decreased serum adiponectin levels. Additionally, the study identified the presence of the transcription factor PPARg (peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor gamma), a key regulator of fat cell development (adipogenesis), within these salivary EVs.
The findings suggest that salivary EVs may play a significant role in metabolic changes linked to obesity. This research opens new avenues for exploring how alterations in salivary EVs could contribute to dysregulated eating habits driven by metabolic changes, potentially leading to novel approaches for managing obesity and its related conditions.
"With this study, we provide new insights into the intricate relationship between metabolic health and the composition of saliva, which is highly relevant for oral health, taste sensation and eating behavior,” says Kerstin Rohde-Zimmermann, researcher at the HI-MAG Institute of Helmholtz Munich in Leipzig and corresponding author of the study. “This work contributes to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of taste sensation and eating behavior in obesity and may pave the way for innovative strategies in obesity treatment and prevention," adds Dr. Imke Schamarek from the University of Leipzig and co-leader of the study.
Original publication
Röhrborn et al. (2024): The Concentration of Salivary Extracellular Vesicles Is Related to Obesity. Nutrients. DOI: 10.3390/nu16162633
Related publications
Kersten et al. (2024): The Obese Taste Bud study: Objectives and study design. Diabetes Obes Metab. DOI: 10.1111/dom.15563
Schamarek et al. (2024): Association of Salty and Sweet Taste Recognition with Food Reward and Subjective Control of Eating Behavior. Nutrients. DOI: 10.3390/nu16162661
Are you interested in participating in one of HI-MAG's clinical studies?
We are constantly recruiting subjects for our clinical studies focusing on the mechanisms of human metabolism. If you are interested, follow this link to our HI-MAG subjects database (only available in German).
Funding information
This study was financed by a project grant from the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Foundation to K.R.-Z. (2021_EKEA.30). The OTB Study has been funded by the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG), Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Leipzig and the University Clinic Leipzig, AöR, and was further supported by grants from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Leipzig to I.S. and K.R.-Z.
