Evaluation of interleukin-10 modulation in brown adipose tissue thermogenesis

• Grant number: 19/26142-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2021
• End date: June 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Eliana Pereira de Araujo
• Grantee: Eliana Pereira de Araujo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Enfermagem. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the past few decades, the study of Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) thermogenesis in adult human brought new insights to the problem of obesity. The presence of this tissue in newborn was already known and its importance to maintain body temperature and survival are undeniable. A recent study from our group demonstrated that mice lacking IL10, an antiinflammatory cytokine, are incapable to respond to cold due to mitochondrial defects on BAT. Hypothermia is a severe condition after birth, especially in preterm infants. This low body temperature predisposes these neonates to death, directly or through increased risk of infections, coagulation abnormalities and pulmonary vasoconstriction. At birth, babies must face a dramatic change in temperature and their high surface/weigh ratio make them vulnerable to hypothermia and as they are incapable to shive, the brown adipose tissue is crucial for their survival. To address this issue, our aim is to evaluate the importance of IL10 in body temperature regulation both in human newborns and mouse model. In addition, we will explore therapeutic strategies to increase BAT function to overlap IL10 absence perhaps through CD1, an immune molecule recently described as a BAT activator and immunological regulator in the central nervous system. (AU)