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 dermal white adipose tissue (DWAT) and fibrosis in a mouse model of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The study involved 15 female C57BL/6 mice divided into three diet groups: chow, high fat lard, and high fat coconut oil. Results indicated that a high fat lard diet increased DWAT and appeared to protect against bleomycin-induced fibrosis, although the differences were not statistically significant due to the small sample size. Additionally, the high fat lard diet influenced the hair follicle cycle, keeping mice in the anagen phase, unlike the other diets. The high fat coconut oil diet did not show these effects, suggesting that the type of fat is crucial. Further research is needed to understand how different fatty acid compositions in high fat diets impact DWAT, fibrosis, and hair follicle cycles.