Obesity is a major world-wide public health problem. For decades there has been a notion that metabolic disease in obesity is associated more with adipocyte size than numbers. Moreover, recent studies have highlighted a connection between adipocyte size, membrane tension and adipogenesis - leading some to postulate adipocyte-autonomous mechanisms of lipid homeostasis. To date, there are no molecular candidates for this hypothesized adipocyte-membrane stretch sensor, nor has anyone put forth a testable model. As some ion channels can signal in response to membrane-stretch, we applied the patch-clamp technique to freshly isolated, mature adipocytes and identified a novel stretch/swell-activated ionic current, SWELL1 (LRRC8a). SWELL1 is important for cytoplasmic volume regulation and can signal via phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. The objective of the current proposal is to elucidate the mechanisms of SWELL1 action on adipocyte function. Our hypothesis is that the novel mechanosensor, SWELL1, senses adipocyte size and regulates growth of the lipid droplet via Akt-mediated effects on lipolysis and cellular glucose uptake. The rationale for the proposed studies is that delineating a novel SWELL1 signaling pathway linking adipocyte size sensing to insulin signaling and lipid homeostasis will advance our understanding of adipocyte biology and provide innovative therapeutic approaches for the treatment of obesity. To test the above hypothesis we propose the following three specific aims:
Aim 1 : Characterize SWELL1 current in adipocytes from lean, obese and fasted mice.
Aim 2 : Determine the mechanism of SWELL1-PI3K-Akt signaling in adipocytes.
Aim 3 : Determine the regulatory effect of SWELL1 on lipid metabolism and adiposity in obesity. The contribution of this proposal is significant because it delineates a novel SWELL1 signaling pathway regulating insulin signaling and adipocyte growth, thereby advancing our understanding of adipocyte biology. This proposal is innovative because, as ion channels are inherently druggable, SWELL1 may provide a new pharmacological target for the treatment of obesity.

Public Health Relevance

Obesity and associated diseases are major health concerns in today's society. The proposed research is relevant to the mission of the NIDDK because it provides mechanistic and pathophysiological insight into a novel signaling pathway in adipocytes. Delineating this pathway will expand our knowledge base in adipocyte biology and may provide an innovative therapeutic target for the treatment and prevention of obesity.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK106009-05
Application #
9694670
Study Section
Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity Study Section (CADO)
Program Officer
Haft, Carol R
Project Start
2018-11-14
Project End
2021-04-30
Budget Start
2019-05-01
Budget End
2020-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Kang, Chen; Xie, Litao; Gunasekar, Susheel K et al. (2018) SWELL1 is a glucose sensor regulating ?-cell excitability and systemic glycaemia. Nat Commun 9:367
Zhang, Yanhui; Tong, Dan; Mishra, Anil et al. (2017) Isolation and Patch-Clamp of Primary Adipocytes. Methods Mol Biol 1566:145-150
Zhang, Yanhui; Xie, Litao; Gunasekar, Susheel K et al. (2017) SWELL1 is a regulator of adipocyte size, insulin signalling and glucose homeostasis. Nat Cell Biol 19:504-517
Xie, Litao; Zhang, Yanhui; Gunasekar, Susheel K et al. (2017) Induction of adipose and hepatic SWELL1 expression is required for maintaining systemic insulin-sensitivity in obesity. Channels (Austin) 11:673-677
Wang, Runping; Lu, Yongjun; Gunasekar, Susheel et al. (2017) The volume-regulated anion channel (LRRC8) in nodose neurons is sensitive to acidic pH. JCI Insight 2:e90632