Insulin regulates Bbs4 during adipogenesis.

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a pleiotropic autosomal recessive disorder associated with marked obesity, increased susceptibility to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, it is unknown whether the link between BBS and diabetes is indirect or direct. Adipogenesis and adipocyte function are regulated by hormonal stimuli, with insulin and insulin growth factor (IGF) playing an important role both in normal and impaired conditions.

BBS4 directly affects proliferation and differentiation of adipocytes.

BBS4 is one of several proteins whose defects cause Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), a multi-systemic disorder, manifesting with marked obesity. BBS4 polymorphisms have been associated with common non-syndromic morbid obesity. BBS4 obesity molecular mechanisms, and the role of the BBS4 gene in adipocyte differentiation and function are not entirely known.

Temporal expression pattern of Bardet-Biedl syndrome genes in adipogenesis.

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is an autosomal recessive disorder associated with marked obesity. Research in rare forms of obesity has identified genes with significant roles in common obesity etiology. To date, 11 BBS genes have been cloned (BBS1-BBS11).