Research Topics
=>Our Agenda
The department covers two major research areas that interact in a complementary and synergistic manner:
Metabolic Syndrome & Cancer Metabolism
Within these main areas our projects focus on the following topics:
1. Transcriptional networks, systemic lipid distribution, and lipotoxicity
Aberrant distribution and storage of lipids in the body represent hallmarks of the Metabolic Syndrome. Specifically, ectopic fat storage in the liver as well as aberrant plasma lipid levels not only contribute to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and eventually liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) but also to cardio-vascular complications, including arteriosclerosis.
We study nuclear receptor transcriptional complexes and their role in hepatic and systemic dyslipidemia to show if and how the activation of these molecular complexes enhances the susceptibility for the development of either liver tumors or arteriosclerosis in subjects affected by the Metabolic Syndrome.
2. Molecular integration of inflammation and metabolism
Bridging inflammatory and metabolic programs, macrophages have recently emerged as important, non-classical gate-keepers of energy homeostasis.
Based on the recent identification by our lab of distinct transcriptional complexes in tissue-specific macrophage activation and systemic inflammation, we investigate to which extent these molecular checkpoints serve as integration sites for hormonal and inflammatory signaling programs under metabolic stress conditions. A particular focus is placed on the organ/tissue cross-talk between macrophages and metabolic cells, including hepatocytes, adipocytes, and cells in the cardio-vascular system, in metabolic diseases and cancer.
3. Brown adipocyte stem cells and control of energy homeostasis
At the cellular level, adipocytes can be subdivided into two distinct categories. Whereas white adipocytes are specialized in the storage of lipids, brown adipocytes dissipate energy in the form of heat.
Based on our recent identification of novel signaling pathways in BAT expansion and recruitment within white adipose tissue depots (BRITE cells), we currently focus on the nutritional and pharmacological induction of BAT stem cell populations and BAT expansion/implantation technologies as novel regenerative approaches in insulin sensitization and systemic body weight control under conditions of energy imbalance, i.e. obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer cachexia.
