Doctoral Dissertation Research: Thermogenesis and energetic costs in humans

博士论文研究：人类的产热和能量消耗

• 批准号: 1945331
• 负责人: Cara Ocobock
• 金额: $ 2.65万
• 依托单位: University of Notre Dame
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-03-15 至 2022-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1945331&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Thermogenesis; energetic

This doctoral dissertation project will examine the energetic cost of brown adipose tissue (BAT), a heat-producing tissue known to be activated under cold conditions, in 100 adults from a lower-latitude population. Research on BAT in adults has been relatively understudied, and this project will expand the available data and geographic scope for investigating BAT’s role in human heat production, energy allocation, and cold adaptation. The project will advance fundamental knowledge in human biology, and may also inform public health research on obesity and diabetes. In addition to the direct transmission of some data to study participants, project outcomes will be shared with the greater public through platforms such as social media, public talks, and publications in open-access journals. Furthermore, this study will foster research collaborations with local research assistants, who will develop STEM research skills and facilitate the smooth and culturally appropriate implementation of the project. BAT has been extensively studied in hibernating mammals and in human infants, but fewer studies have focused on its functions in adults. Researchers have suggested that BAT may have played a role in human evolution as an adaptive defense mechanism against chronic cold and that it may also be useful in reducing risks of metabolic diseases given its physiological effects on metabolism. In this study, BAT function will be examined in a lower-latitude population showing an average body size and shape that is morphologically best adapted to retain heat despite living in a warm region. BAT will be inferred by comparing metabolic rates and heat dissipation in the chest and shoulder area (main BAT location in adults) at room temperature and at mild cold exposure. Simultaneously, fasting glucose levels as well as respiratory quotients (a ratio determining metabolic substrates consumed) will be measured before and after BAT activation to determine BAT’s use of glucose. By determining the metabolic and heat-producing capabilities of BAT in the study population, this research will parse out how BAT may be a physiological reflection of cold adapted morphology and by extension how BAT may have played a role in the successful dispersal of humans into different ecological settings independent of their morphology. A better understanding of the energy consumption and glucose disposal of BAT can provide insight into its potential utility in weight gain and diabetes prevention. These potential health benefits of BAT activation are especially important for regions burdened by high rates of obesity and diabetes.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该博士学位论文项目将检查棕色脂肪组织（BAT）的能源成本，这是一种在较低纬度人群中的100名成年人中，已知在寒冷条件下已被激活的热组织。成人对BAT的研究已经相对了解，该项目将扩大可用的数据和地理范围，以调查BAT在人类热量产生，能源分配和冷适应中的作用。该项目将促进人类生物学的基本知识，并可能为肥胖和糖尿病的公共卫生研究提供信息。除了将某些数据直接传输到研究参与者之外，项目成果还将通过社交媒体，公众会谈和开放式访问期刊上的出版物等平台与大众共享。此外，这项研究将促进与当地研究助理的研究合作，他们将发展STEM研究技能并促进该项目的平稳且在文化上适当的实施。 BAT已在冬眠的哺乳动物和人类婴儿中进行了广泛的研究，但较少的研究集中在其成人中的功能上。研究人员认为，蝙蝠可能在人类进化中发挥了作用，是一种适应性的防御机制，可以抵抗慢性寒冷，并且鉴于其对代谢的身体影响，它也可能有用。在这项研究中，将在较低的纬度人群中检查BAT功能，显示出平均体型和形状，在形态上最好适合保留居住在温暖地区的热目的地。通过比较室温下的胸部和肩部区域（成人主蝙蝠位置）和轻度冷暴露时，将通过比较胸部和肩部面积的代谢率和散热来推断蝙蝠。同时，将在BAT激活之前和之后测量禁食葡萄糖水平以及呼吸配额（确定代谢底物的比率），以确定BAT使用葡萄糖的使用。通过确定蝙蝠在研究人群中BAT的代谢和热产能的能力，这项研究将解析BAT如何对冷适应的形态进行物理反映，并扩展BAT如何在人类成功地扩散到人类中，独立于其形态。更好地了解蝙蝠的能耗和葡萄糖处置可以洞悉其在体重增加和预防糖尿病方面的潜在效用。蝙蝠激活的这些潜在健康益处对于高肥胖和糖尿病烧毁的地区尤为重要。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并且使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响审查标准，通过评估被认为是珍贵的支持。