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In obesity, the fat cells expand in numbers and sizes and become unhealthy. These unhealthy fat cells release molecules which attack organs including the liver, the skeletal muscle and the pancreas. These organs, important in regulating body energy balance, turn unhealthy and result in diseases such as diabetes. The greatest signature of diabetes is high blood sugar level, a result of the body unable to store excess energy properly.

In human system, the blood vessels supply nutrients and oxygen to different organs including the fat store. They also release signalling molecules to regulate the functioning of the fat cells. As scientists previously reported that the fat cells in obesity receive less blood supply as there are less blood vessels in fat stores, I look into how the communication between the blood vessels and the fat cells is different in energy excess conditions. I take out the blood vessels from mice samples and collect the molecules released. I then put these molecules into fat cells and explore if any of them prevent fat cells from becoming unhealthy.