Using experiment in mice, Makoto MURAKAMI, Hiroyasu SATO and others have found that the adipocyte-inducible secreted phospholipases PLA2G5 and PLA2G2E play a distinct role in obesity, and that the amount of unsaturated fatty acids and the expression level of A2 secretory phospholipase in visceral adipose tissue are potential new diagnostic markers of obesity. In addition, drug discovery targeting secretory phospholipase A2 could lead to the development of new preventions and treatment of the metabolic syndrome

JST news release, June 5, 2014