Submitted by Sona Kang on
The twin epidemics of obesity and Type 2 diabetes have beenare a serious health, social, and economic issues. The dysregulation of adipose tissue biology is central to the development of these two metabolic disorders, as adipose tissueAdipose tissue plays a pivotal role in the regulatingon of whole- body metabolism and energy homeostasis. Hence, dysregulation of adipose tissue biology is central to the development of these two metabolic disorders. Accumulating evidence indicates that multiple aspects of adipose biology are regulated, in part, by epigenetic mechanismss plays an important role in the regulation of multiple aspects of adipose biology. The precise and comprehensive understanding of the epigenetic control of adipose tissue biology is crucial to identifying novel therapeutic interventions by that targeting epigenetic issues.
Our group recently demonstrated that DNA methylation machinery, such as DNA methyltransferase (DNMTs) and DNA demethylase (TETs) affect adipocyte insulin sensitivity both in vitro and in vivo. For example, Adipose Dnmt3a plays a causal role in the development of insulin resistance, as evidenced by that adipose-specific deficiency of Dnmt3a conferring protection from diet-induced metabolic dysregulation inindependent of dissociation with body weight or adiposity.
In obesity, white adipose tissue undergoes pathologic expansion that is characterized by adipocyte hypertrophy, inflammation, and fibrosis; however, factors triggering this maladaptive remodeling are largely unknown.
Our ongoing studies reveal that DNA methylation plays important role in the regulation of adipose tissue remodeling in response to high fat diet feeding.
Due to the pandemic issue, SPUR program will be focused on advancing understanding of relevant literature during fall semester. Discussion topics will be focused but not limited to the epigenetic players of metabolic control.
This is an extension of the current SPUR faculty initiated program.
Undergraduate researchers from SPUR program are expected to participate in online lab meetings and present research articles for weekly journal clubs.