Central Regulation of Hepatic Energy Stores
Description: PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: In this proposal, we will elucidate a novel mechanism underlying starvation-induced hepatic steatosis. We propose that starvation-induced liver steatosis is not just a passive process caused by increased fatty acid flux to the liver, as commonly thought, but rather an integral component of the overall adaptive regulation by leptin to ensure energy availability during long period of food deprivation. This mechanism may also operate in diet- induced obesity in that impairment of leptin signaling due to leptin resistance is perceived by the brain as a state of starvation, triggering similar adaptive responses and thereby contributing to non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases.
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: R01
Start date: 2008-02-01
End date: 2017-08-31
Investigator: ALLISON W XU
Institution: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
Subfield: Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Funded outputs count: 9
Funder award ID: R01DK080427
OpenAlex ID: G7469379559