Researchers in Spain have successfully identified markers of type 2 diabetes and obesity in rodents using gene therapy . The team at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ( UAB ) modelled the conditions in mice then administered a drug that stimulated production of so - called FGF21 proteins , which are known to regulate sugar . This gene is responsible for encoding the FGF21 protein, which is seen as a “major metabolic regulator” that stimulates the absorption of blood sugar in adipose tissue. The mice lost weight and their insulin resistance dropped , while at the same time the weight loss , inflammation and fibrosis of their livers were reversed without side effects .
Researchers in Spain have successfully identified markers of type 2 diabetes and obesity in rodents using gene therapy . The team at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ( UAB ) modelled the conditions in mice then administered a drug that stimulated production of so - called FGF21 proteins , which are known to regulate sugar . The mice lost weight and their insulin resistance dropped , while at the same time the weight loss , inflammation and fibrosis of their livers were reversed without side effects .