What if our bodies could burn more calories simply by adjusting the internal functioning of our cells?
A team of scientists is now exploring an astonishing lead centered on mitochondria, those tiny cellular power plants. This new approach could open an original path to combat obesity, a major global health issue that increases the risks of diabetes or cancer.
Within our cells, mitochondria usually transform nutrients into usable energy, notably in the form of ATP. Certain substances, called mitochondrial uncouplers, disrupt this process by letting some energy leak away as heat. Consequently, the cells must then draw more from their resources, such as fat reserves, which increases the overall calorie expenditure. Researchers compare this phenomenon to a hydroelectric dam with a leak.
Unsplash illustration image To fully grasp the potential of these molecules, a step back in time is necessary. The history of mitochondrial uncouplers begins almost a century ago with particularly dangerous compounds. During World War I, workers exposed to a substance called DNP effectively lost weight, but suffered high fevers, with some cases being fatal. Briefly marketed in the 1930s as a weight loss product, DNP was eventually banned, as the border between an effective dose and a lethal dose was too narrow.
In this context, a recent study published in
Chemical Science focused on designing more moderate versions of these uncouplers. By modifying the chemical structure of experimental molecules, the researchers managed to adjust the intensity with which they activate cellular energy consumption. Several tested compounds stimulated mitochondrial activity without damaging the cells or hindering ATP production, while others proved too powerful.
Beyond weight management, these adjusted mitochondrial uncouplers could present other health benefits. They notably reduce oxidative stress inside cells, an effect likely to promote a more balanced metabolism and contribute to protection against aging or certain neurodegenerative pathologies. Although this work is only in its initial phases, it paves the way for possible future treatments.
Conducted by an international collaboration, this research thus provides a starting point for developing a new generation of drugs. The goal is to replicate the beneficial effects of mitochondrial uncouplers while eliminating the dangers associated with older molecules. The path remains long, but this scientific lead carries the hope of improving, in a safer manner, the metabolic health of many people.