SOCS2 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Studies have indicated that overexpression of SOCS2 can significantly inhibit the expression of Leptin receptor in adipocytes [34].THBS1 is an obesity-associated matricellular protein, which induces proliferation of fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) — mesenchymal cells that differentiate into adipocytes and fibroblasts.