Cold atmospheric plasma control metabolic syndromes via targeting fat mass and obesity-associated protein

Abstract

Both obesity and metabolic disorders are global medical problems. Driven by prolonged inflammation, obesity increases the risk of developing metabolic syndromes such as fatty liver, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancers. The fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) is an m⁶A demethylase, elevated activity of which is known to promote the pathogenesis of many metabolic disorders, leading to the establishment of various FTO inhibitors. By combing through intrinsic connections among obesity and the four primary metabolic problems, we attribute their shared pathological cause to prolonged inflammation. By reviewing the roles of FTO in promoting these disorders and the current status of existing FTO inhibitors in treating these syndromes, we underpinned the paramount potential of resolving these clinical issues by targeting FTO and the urgent need of establishing novel FTO inhibitors with maximized efficacy and minimized side effect. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is the fourth state of matter with demonstrated efficacy in treating various diseases associated with chronic inflammation. By introducing the medical characteristics of CAP, we proposed it as a possible solution to unresolved issues of current FTO inhibitors given its anti-inflammation feature and demonstrated clinical safety. We also emphasized the need of intensive investigations in exploring the feasibility of using CAP in treating obesity and associated metabolic syndromes that might function through targeting FTO.