High Fat Diet and the Adipocyte to Myofibroblast Transition: Implications for Systemic Sclerosis Cutaneous Fibrosis

This pilot study investigated the effects of a high fat diet on fibrosis and dermal white adipose tissue (DWAT) in a mouse model of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Three-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were fed either a chow diet, a high fat lard diet, or a high fat coconut oil diet, followed by bleomycin injections to induce skin fibrosis. Results showed that the high fat lard diet increased DWAT and appeared to protect against bleomycin-induced fibrosis, while also affecting the hair follicle cycle by maintaining anagen phase. In contrast, the high fat coconut oil diet did not show these effects. The study suggests that the chemical composition of dietary fats may influence their impact on fibrosis and hair follicle cycles, warranting further research.