You know those painful knee issues many people deal with as they age? It turns out, there’s a surprising connection to how our cells manage energy. Scientists discovered that a protein called FTO helps control a process in our cells called autophagy. Autophagy keeps cells healthy by recycling old parts and producing energy. When autophagy goes wrong, it can lead to meniscus degeneration, which is a big factor in osteoarthritis (OA).

Researchers found that meniscus cells in early stages of OA have a problem with their energy production. This happens because autophagy isn’t working as it should. The protein FTO plays a crucial role in this process. When FTO is missing, meniscus cells have trouble making enough energy, which worsens the degeneration and OA.

To make things even more interesting, FTO regulates a special gene called ATG16L1. This gene helps form little garbage bags called autophagosomes inside our cells. FTO controls the stability of ATG16L1 through a process called mRNA methylation. When FTO is not there, autophagosomes don’t form properly, leading to an energy imbalance.

Experiments with mice showed that deleting FTO caused issues in autophagy and made OA worse. But when researchers added FTO back, it improved autophagy and relieved some of the symptoms. This suggests that FTO might be a key target for treating early-stage OA.

The takeaway? Our cells have an amazing system for keeping themselves healthy, and FTO plays a vital role in this process. Understanding how FTO works could help scientists develop new ways to treat knee problems before they get too serious.

“How FTO Keeps Your Knees Healthy: A Surprising Connection”

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