Dr. Charles Harris is an MD/PhD trained endocrinologist with a strong interest in metabolism. Dr. Harris's development as a physician scientist was nurtured as a trainee in Washington University's Medical Scientist Training Program. His interest in glucocorticoids (GCs) was sparked as a clinical endocrine fellow seeing patients with Cushing's disease, a state of GC excess. These patients suffer from central obesity, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, and CNS changes. Metabolic syndrome (MS) may also be the result of excess GC signaling, but restricted to adipose tissue. The long-term goals of Dr. Harris's work is to understand the molecular mechanisms for these effects of GCs on adipose, muscle, liver, bone and brain. GCs bind to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). GR, a nuclear hormone receptor, activates transcription of a number of genes with GRE regulatory elements. In addition, GR inhibits transcription by tethering transcriptional complexes such as AP-1 and NF-kB. A particular mutation of GR, GRdim is of interest because transactivation is lost for the majority of target genes. A minority of GR targets are still activated by GRdim pointing to a minor subset of GR dimerization-independent target genes. Dr. Harris will dissect the metabolic effects of GCs in vitro and in vivo using cells and mice harboring the GR mutation, GRdim. In this manner he will be able to determine the physiological significance of the GR dimerization-dependent targets. In addition, Dr. Harris will further address the role of GR action in adipose tissue by creating an adipose-specific GR null mouse.
Aim 1 : To identify the mechanisms of glucocorticoid-mediated adipogenesis and insulin resistance in adipocytes.
Aim 2 : To determine if the metabolic derangements induced by excess glucocorticoids are mediated by GR dimerization-dependent targets or by GR action in adipose tissue.
Aim 3 : To determine if the obesogenic properties of a high-fat diet are mediated by GR dimerization-dependent targets and if they are mediated by GR action in adipose tissue. By completing these aims Dr. Harris will make his transition to becoming an independent physician-scientist researcher in academic medicine, his career goal. Relevance: The research will shed light on the etiology of GC-mediated adverse metabolic effects as well as the metabolic syndrome. In addition, the proposed research could point to the use of """"""""dissociated GCs"""""""", safer anti-inflammatory medications to treat the millions of patients afflicted with inflammatory diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08DK081680-04
Application #
8101917
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Hyde, James F
Project Start
2008-07-31
Project End
2013-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$154,624
Indirect Cost
Name
J. David Gladstone Institutes
Department
Type
DUNS #
099992430
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94158
Bose, Sandip K; Hutson, Irina; Harris, Charles A (2016) Hepatic Glucocorticoid Receptor Plays a Greater Role Than Adipose GR in Metabolic Syndrome Despite Renal Compensation. Endocrinology 157:4943-4960
Harris, Charles; Roohk, Donald J; Fitch, Mark et al. (2013) Large increases in adipose triacylglycerol flux in Cushingoid CRH-Tg mice are explained by futile cycling. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 304:E282-93
Roohk, Donald J; Mascharak, Smita; Khambatta, Cyrus et al. (2013) Dexamethasone-mediated changes in adipose triacylglycerol metabolism are exaggerated, not diminished, in the absence of a functional GR dimerization domain. Endocrinology 154:1528-39
Kuo, Taiyi; Harris, Charles A; Wang, Jen-Chywan (2013) Metabolic functions of glucocorticoid receptor in skeletal muscle. Mol Cell Endocrinol 380:79-88
Kuo, Taiyi; Lew, Michelle J; Mayba, Oleg et al. (2012) Genome-wide analysis of glucocorticoid receptor-binding sites in myotubes identifies gene networks modulating insulin signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:11160-5
Wang, Jen-Chywan; Gray, Nora E; Kuo, Taiyi et al. (2012) Regulation of triglyceride metabolism by glucocorticoid receptor. Cell Biosci 2:19
Harris, Charles; Herker, Eva; Farese Jr, Robert V et al. (2011) Hepatitis C virus core protein decreases lipid droplet turnover: a mechanism for core-induced steatosis. J Biol Chem 286:42615-25
Harris, Charles A; Haas, Joel T; Streeper, Ryan S et al. (2011) DGAT enzymes are required for triacylglycerol synthesis and lipid droplets in adipocytes. J Lipid Res 52:657-67
Sos, Brandon C; Harris, Charles; Nordstrom, Sarah M et al. (2011) Abrogation of growth hormone secretion rescues fatty liver in mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of JAK2. J Clin Invest 121:1412-23
Yu, Chi-Yi; Mayba, Oleg; Lee, Joyce V et al. (2010) Genome-wide analysis of glucocorticoid receptor binding regions in adipocytes reveal gene network involved in triglyceride homeostasis. PLoS One 5:e15188