Stem Cell Secretome Treatment Reduces Adiposity and Improves Glucose Handling During Obesity and Weight Loss in Mice

TL;DR

A stem cell secretome treatment improved body composition and glucose handling in obese mice and those losing weight.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that stem cell secretome can enhance tissue quality and metabolic health during obesity and weight loss.

Findings

Secretome-treated obese mice showed increased lean mass and improved muscle quality.

Mice undergoing weight loss with secretome had faster fat loss and better glucose handling.

Liver steatosis and fibrosis were reduced in secretome-treated groups.

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of a stem cell‐derived secretome product on adiposity and tissue quality and insulin and glucose levels in obese mice and those undergoing dietary weight loss.

Following 16 weeks of high fat diet mice received acute (4 weeks) biweekly intramuscular injections with vehicle or secretome while remaining on a high fat diet (HFD vs. HFD‐S) or during weight loss upon return to a normal chow diet (HFD/WL vs. HFD/WL‐S).

After 4 weeks of treatment, HFD‐S mice had greater lean mass (vs HFD), muscle weights, and quadriceps myofibrillar size and improved muscle quality (capillary density and fibrosis). HFD/WL‐S mice had accelerated whole‐body fat loss and improved glucose handling, fasting insulin levels, and HOMA‐IR. In both secretome‐treated groups (HFD‐S and HFD/WL‐S), liver steatosis and fibrosis were improved and similar to chow controls.

Together, these results support that a stem cell secretome treatment may be useful to improve tissue quality and metabolic health during obesity and weight loss.

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