Researchers receive CIHR grant to study the connection between estrogen, fat tissue

Cardiometabolic diseases—including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke—are major health concerns, with obesity being the primary risk factor. In fact, obesity accounts for up to 85 per cent of the risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.

Despite similar obesity rates in males and females, men are at a higher risk of developing these diseases during early adulthood. This female advantage declines after menopause, but scientists aren’t sure of the mechanics behind this.  

Dr. Jennifer Thompson, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Cumming School of Medicine, believes the interplay between fat cells, immune cells and estrogen holds the key to understanding loss of protection after menopause. 

In her previous work, Thompson showed (link to study) that females of child-bearing age are better able to create new fat cells under the skin than their male counterparts – a critical part of maintaining health. 

“Fat can be either metabolically healthy or unhealthy,” says Thompson. “Fat tissue becomes unhealthy when it fails to perform its energy storing role, and this decline in the integrity of fat tissue is thought to underlie the development of obesity-associated disease.” 

After menopause, females experience a steep decline in estrogen levels, which coincides with increased risk of unhealthy fat development. Thompson believes estrogen influences communication between fat precursor cells and immune cells (called adipose tissue macrophages) in fat tissue, so a lack of the hormone could explain why fat tissue changes with the onset of menopause. 

Thompson, along with co-applicants Dr. Cindy Barha, PhD, a researcher in the Faculty of Kinesiology; Dr. Sandra Dumanski, MD, a clinician-researcher at the CSM; Dr. Jane Shearer, PhD, a researcher with ties to both the Cumming School of Medicine and the Faculty of Kinesiology; and Jessica Wager, a PhD candidate under Thompson’s mentorship, recently received a CIHR project grant to investigate their hypothesis.  

Wager, who brought the idea that immune cells may be involved in fat tissue formation to the Thompson lab, says looking at how sex differences influence how the body responds to weight gain is important work. 

“Female models have been excluded from about 80 per cent of studies over the last decade,” says Wager. “Because of this, we have a huge lack of information on how mechanisms work in females. By uncovering these sex-specific differences, researchers may be able to prevent disease and develop more individualized treatments.” 

Jennifer Thompson is an associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Cumming School of Medicine. She is a member of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Thompson is also a member of the Libin Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative. 

The Libin Cardiovascular Institute’s Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative focuses on transforming women’s heart health across their lifespan by improving clinical care, research, education and through community outreach. Our aim is to save women's lives by preventing and treating cardiovascular disease. Learn more here.