How blood-vessel cells in fat help make new fat cells
Defining the role of an endothelial-adipocyte precursor axis in adipocyte hyperplasia
This project explores whether estrogen made by blood-vessel cells inside fat changes where and how new fat cells form in adults with obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11292874 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are studying how estrogen produced by cells that line blood vessels inside fat tissue influences the creation of new fat cells in belly (visceral) versus under-the-skin (subcutaneous) fat. The team uses lab models, including mouse experiments and cell-based work, to label and track the precursor cells that become new fat cells and to turn on or off the enzyme aromatase that makes estrogen in those blood-vessel cells. They compare male, female, and ovariectomized mice to mimic human sex-hormone differences and obesity-related conditions. The goal is to understand why fat grows differently in different body areas and how local estrogen production contributes to that pattern.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with obesity, especially people with excess visceral (abdominal) fat or those whose fat distribution changed after menopause or hormone therapy, are the most relevant group.
Not a fit: People without obesity or those seeking an established, immediate treatment for weight loss are unlikely to get direct clinical benefit from this basic-science work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, this could point to new ways to prevent or shift harmful belly fat growth by targeting local estrogen production in fat tissue.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies, including preliminary work from these investigators, have shown estrogen and local aromatase can alter fat-cell growth, but applying these findings to human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rodeheffer, Matthew S — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Rodeheffer, Matthew S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.