Post-inflammatory mechanisms involved in the hypothalamic control of hunger and hermogenesis - implications for the physiopathology of obesity, Diabetes mellitus and cachexia

• Grant number: 04/09789-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2005
• End date: June 30, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Licio Augusto Velloso
• Grantee: Licio Augusto Velloso
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Campinas
• Associated scholarship(s): 08/56198-5 - Distribution assessment of the different subtypes of NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) glutamate receptor in lateral hypothalamus of rats, BP.IC

Abstract

In recent decades there has been a surprising increase in the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therapy based on behavioral and alimentary modification, and in the use of the few medicines available have not been sufficient to contain the advance of this epidemic. The characterization of the epithalamic mechanisms participating in the control of hunger and thermogenesis should make possible the identification of new targets for therapeutic approaches in these diseases. In the present project, multiple facets of the hypothalamic control of hunger and thermogenesis will be investigated. In a first stage an analysis was carried out of the differential expression of RNAm the hypothalamus of mice fed on a hyperlipidic diet. Modulations in the expressions of RNAm of several inflammatory response proteins were detected. In continuation, we will investigate the role of TNF-a and IL-1b on the action of insulin in the hypothalamus and in hypothalamic control of the secretion of insulin. We will also investigate the mechanisms of integration between hypothalamic signaling of IL-1b and of insulin in a cancer model. (AU)