Key result
ML-derived BAT genetic targets reduce body weight and fat mass in obese mice.
Why the study?
Brown adipose tissue plays a key role in non-shivering thermogenesis, is implicated in obesity and metabolic disease, and may offer an alternative therapeutic strategy for treating obesity and related comorbidities.
Does targeting genetic signals identified via BAT-ML GWAS reduce body weight and fat mass in HFD obese mice?
Does targeting genetic signals identified via BAT-ML GWAS reduce body weight and fat mass in HFD obese mice?
An AI/ML-derived GWAS identified a genetic target that successfully reduced body weight and fat mass in obese mice, highlighting the potential of targeting brown adipose tissue for obesity treatment.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Extends ML-GWAS signals to functional validation in obese mice; leaves open human translation and clinical relevance.
Introduction and Objective: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a key role in non-shivering thermogenesis and is strongly implicated in obesity and metabolic disease, and may offer an alternative therapeutic strategy for treating obesity and its related comorbidities. Methods: Starting from a BAT-ML (an in-house machine learning (ML)-derived BAT phenotype) GWAS, we investigated the relevance of these genetic signals in vitro using human adipocyte cell models and in vivo in HFD obese mice. Results: At least 1 target identified through BAT-ML was found to reduce body weight and fat mass AND increased BAT/beige-like character in vivo. Conclusion: Here, we present the first BAT-ML GWAS and prosecution of the genetic insights in adipocyte cell models through in vivo validation in support of targeting BAT for potentially treating obesity and its related comorbidities. Disclosure J. Choy: Employee; Current; insitro. Employee; Ended; Maze Therapeutics. Stock/Shareholder; Current; Maze Therapeutics, Merck & Co., Inc. D. Lloyd: None.
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Choy et al. (2026) studied Obesity and metabolic disease. Genetic targets identified through BAT-ML GWAS was evaluated on Body weight, fat mass, and BAT/beige-like character. At least one genetic target identified through a machine learning-derived brown adipose tissue GWAS reduced body weight and fat mass and increased BAT/beige-like character in vivo in obese mice.
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