2023-05-16 19:05:16
researchers of the Indiana University School of Medicine who study the hematopoyesis clonal of indeterminate potential (CHIP), a blood condition that can increase the risk of blood cancer, found that obesity was strongly associated with this condition. Their findings have been published in the journal «Journal of Clinical Investigation».
CHIP is a disease in which blood cells accumulate genetic mutations that increase the risk of developing blood cancer. Although CHIP is common in the elderly, the risk factors that contribute to its development are not well understood.
“The results of our study show that being overweight or obese may be risk factors for CHIP, as obesity causes inflammation in the body and changes the bone marrow, where blood cells are produced. This increases the risk of blood cancers and cardiovascular disease,” says lead author of the published study Santhosh Pasupuleti, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics at the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research and an investigator at the IU Melvin y Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The importance of our findings offers potential new avenues for treatment in individuals with CHIP and obesity.”
The researchers analyzed data from more than 47,000 individuals with CHIP and found that 5.8 percent of the population was associated with a significant increase in waist-to-hip ratio. In addition, in the mouse models of obesity and CHIP used in the study, the mutated blood cells were found to grow more rapidly.
“Our current and future studies are focused on identifying therapeutic strategies to mitigate the spread and rapid growth of CHIP-carrying mutated blood cells,” says Reuben Kapur, Director of the center Herman B Wells of Pediatric Researchco-director of the program Hematopoiesis and Malignant Blood Tumors at the UI Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and co-author of the study. “Surprisingly, our initial findings suggest that common drugs used to treat blood pressure and diabetes may play a role in regulating the growth of mutated blood cells. Other future studies will focus on looking at people taking these types of drugs and their long-term risks of developing blood cancer.”
As part of their study, the researchers also tested different drug combinations to target CHIP mutant cells and find possible therapeutic approaches to the disease. Overall, the research suggests that a better understanding of the relationship between CHIP and obesity may help identify individuals at risk of developing diseases such as leukemia and find approaches to future treatment.
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