This proposal delineates a 5-year program to provide the training toward the development of an independent academic research career in the study of neuroimmune interactions that affect energy balance. The goal of this research program will be to determine brain mechanisms that govern dysregulation of energy balance in high-fat diet induced obesity in order to provide molecular targets for therapy. The candidate has been prepared for this pathway by completing MD and PhD degrees and clinical training in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. This research will be conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Schwartz, an expert in the field of hypothalamic regulation of energy balance and glucose homeostasis, and will involve collaboration with a large group of experts in metabolism and inflammatory biology at the University of Washington. It will be overseen by an expert mentoring committee with several members of the Endocrinology Division as well as three external advisors. The clinical problem of weight gain associated with dietary excess has been hampered by a limited understanding of the central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms that account for this disruption in energy homeostasis. Our preliminary data has uncovered a potential interaction between microglia, the immune cells of the brain, and neurons, the regulators of energy balance. At the onset of high-fat feeding, there is a period of early hyperphagia and a concomitant inflammatory response specifically in the hypothalamus. At the same time, an increase in microglial number and cell size occurs in the arcuate nucleus, a region of the hypothalamus containing leptin-responsive melanocortin (POMC) neurons. Blocking microglial activation results in enhanced susceptibility to high-fat diet-induced weight gain. This research will characterize the mechanisms by which high-fat diet-induced inflammation in the hypothalamus contributes to excess weight gain through two specific aims.
In Aim 1, we will examine the energy balance, inflammatory, hormonal, and cellular mechanisms by which microglial inhibition confers increased susceptibility to weight gain on high-fat diets.
Aim 2 focuses on the effect of preventing high-fat diet-induced inflammation in the POMC neuron on leptin sensitivity, energy balance, and glucose homeostasis. This research course will provide the training and expertise necessary for an independent investigative career while transitioning the PI toward translational research in the expanding field of neuroimmunology. The overarching goal of this proposal is to determine the mechanisms by which inflammatory signals alter energy homeostasis in order to generate better therapeutic options to improve patient care.

Public Health Relevance

Obesity is the underlying cause of most cases of type 2 diabetes worldwide. Therapies that target obesity could reduce the incidence of diabetes, thereby greatly improving general health. This research focuses on the brain's role in high-fat diet-induced weight gain with an effort to develop therapies to reduce weight gain.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08DK088872-03
Application #
8281715
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Hyde, James F
Project Start
2010-07-01
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$149,180
Indirect Cost
$11,050
Name
University of Washington
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Dorfman, Mauricio D; Krull, Jordan E; Scarlett, Jarrad M et al. (2017) Deletion of Protein Kinase C ? in POMC Neurons Predisposes to Diet-Induced Obesity. Diabetes 66:920-934
Dorfman, Mauricio D; Krull, Jordan E; Douglass, John D et al. (2017) Sex differences in microglial CX3CR1 signalling determine obesity susceptibility in mice. Nat Commun 8:14556
Valdearcos, Martin; Douglass, John D; Robblee, Megan M et al. (2017) Microglial Inflammatory Signaling Orchestrates the Hypothalamic Immune Response to Dietary Excess and Mediates Obesity Susceptibility. Cell Metab 26:185-197.e3
Douglass, J D; Dorfman, M D; Fasnacht, R et al. (2017) Astrocyte IKK?/NF-?B signaling is required for diet-induced obesity and hypothalamic inflammation. Mol Metab 6:366-373
Dorfman, Mauricio D; Thaler, Joshua P (2015) Hypothalamic inflammation and gliosis in obesity. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 22:325-30
Gao, Yuanqing; Ottaway, Nickki; Schriever, Sonja C et al. (2014) Hormones and diet, but not body weight, control hypothalamic microglial activity. Glia 62:17-25
Guyenet, Stephan J; Nguyen, Hong T; Hwang, Bang H et al. (2013) High-fat diet feeding causes rapid, non-apoptotic cleavage of caspase-3 in astrocytes. Brain Res 1512:97-105
Lee, Donghoon; Thaler, Joshua P; Berkseth, Kathryn E et al. (2013) Longer T(2) relaxation time is a marker of hypothalamic gliosis in mice with diet-induced obesity. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 304:E1245-50
Meek, Thomas H; Wisse, Brent E; Thaler, Joshua P et al. (2013) BDNF action in the brain attenuates diabetic hyperglycemia via insulin-independent inhibition of hepatic glucose production. Diabetes 62:1512-8
Karatsoreos, Ilia N; Thaler, Joshua P; Borgland, Stephanie L et al. (2013) Food for thought: hormonal, experiential, and neural influences on feeding and obesity. J Neurosci 33:17610-6

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