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Targeting ACOX2: A Breakthrough for Weight Loss?

10/10/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Washington University School of Medicine researchers identified a brown-fat mechanism where peroxisomes burn fuel via acyl-CoA oxidase 2 (ACOX2) to generate heat and improve metabolic health.
In mice lacking ACOX2, cold tolerance decreased and weight gain increased on high-fat diets.
Conversely, mice engineered to produce more ACOX2 showed better insulin sensitivity and weight control.
Researchers say interventions or drugs targeting ACOX2 could aid weight loss and metabolic health in humans.

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Story summary

Washington University School of Medicine researchers identified a brown-fat mechanism where peroxisomes burn fuel via acyl-CoA oxidase 2 (ACOX2) to generate heat and improve metabolic health.
In mice lacking ACOX2, cold tolerance decreased and weight gain increased on high-fat diets.
Conversely, mice engineered to produce more ACOX2 showed better insulin sensitivity and weight control.
Researchers say interventions or drugs targeting ACOX2 could aid weight loss and metabolic health in humans.