Identification of Novel Lipid Mediators with Antidiabetic Effect
Abstract
This project relates to the Fiscal Year 2016 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program topic area of Diabetes. The development of new prevention and treatment strategies for obesity and diabetes is a matter of great urgency. Obesity is characterized by an increase in adipose mass; however, not all fat is involved in energy storage. Rather, there are two functionally different types of fat: white fat, which is the primary site of lipid storage, and brown fat, which is specialized in burning energy. Due to brown fat’s huge capacity to dissipate energy and its well-recognized effects on fat and glucose metabolism, increasing the amount and function of brown and its related beige fat may not only combat obesity, but may also ameliorate type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Cold exposure is an effective way to activate brown fat and has recently been shown both to activate brown fat and improve insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. However, cold exposure is uncomfortable, and thus, identification of the molecular mimetics of cold exposure will potentially provide new avenues for the prevention and treatment of obesity and diabetes. Recently, we have identified a number of lipids that are secreted from brown fat in response to cold exposure. We have begun to test one of the omega-3 derived lipids that exerts anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. The goal of this proposal is to perform proof-of-principle studies in mice, elucidate the mechanisms mediating this effect using both mouse and human brown fat cells, and determine its potential role in humans. The success of the proposed studies will improve our knowledge of lipid metabolism and brown fat activation and will provide promising therapeutic approaches for the treatment and prevention of obesity and diabetes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 29, 2018
- Source ID
- W81XWH1710428
Entities
People
- Yu-Hua Tseng
Organizations
- Joslin Diabetes Center
- United States Army