Metabolic characterization of adipocytes in response to serum of rodents subjected to dietary restriction

• Grant number: 15/20822-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Alves da Silva Mori
• Grantee: Raissa Guimarães Ludwig
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity has been growing worldwide alongside the morbidities associated with the disease. Current anti-obesity therapies appear to be poorly efficient, especially on the long-term, and are associated with significant side effects. There are two ways to lose weight: by decreasing the energy intake or increasing energy expenditure. One way to increase energy expenditure in mammals is the stimulation of brown/beige adipocytes and the increase in their function. This phenomenon correlates especially with high levels of UCP1 expression and activity. Some conditions capable of regulating UCP1 expression and function have already been described. Among them, there is chronic cold exposure, exercise, an enriched social environment, and cancer cachexia. These conditions act through cell autonomous mechanisms, such as by regulating transcription factors in preadipocytes or adipocytes, and cell non-autonomous mechanisms, such as by signaling through hormones and other circulating molecules. The study and understanding of the circulating molecules that act in adipose tissue to increase its brown/beige characteristics is essential for the development of more efficient and secure pharmacological strategies that could help to combat the global scenario of obesity. It was noticed, in preliminary results obtained by our group, that serum of mice subjected to dietary restriction is capable of modulating the expression of Ucp1 in vitro in mouse adipocytes derived from brown adipose tissue. The characterization of this phenomenon is the overarching aim of this project and serves as an initial and fundamental step to the future identification of the molecule(s) responsible for this function. This/these molecule(s) may bring insights into the development of new drugs to combat obesity.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LUDWIG, RAISSA G.; ROCHA, ANDREA L.; MORI, MARCELO A.. Circulating molecules that control brown/beige adipocyte differentiation and thermogenic capacity. Cell Biology International, v. 42, n. 6, SI, p. 701-710, JUN 2018. (16/12294-7, 15/01316-7, 17/01184-9, 17/07975-8, 15/20822-0)

LUDWIG, RAISSA G.; ROCHA, ANDREA L.; MORI, MARCELO A.. Circulating molecules that control brown/beige adipocyte differentiation and thermogenic capacity. Cell Biology International, v. 42, n. 6, p. 10-pg., 2018-06-01. (17/01184-9, 17/07975-8, 15/20822-0, 16/12294-7, 15/01316-7)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

LUDWIG, Raissa Guimarães. Metabolic characterization of adipocytes in response to serum of rodents subjected to dietary restriction. 2018. 55 f. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia.