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.

本博士论文项目将研究来自低纬度地区的 100 名成年人体内棕色脂肪组织 (BAT) 的能量消耗，这种组织是一种已知在寒冷条件下会被激活的产热组织。该项目将扩大现有数据和地理范围，以研究 BAT 在人体产热、能量分配和寒冷适应中的作用。该项目将推进人类生物学的基础知识，并可能为肥胖和糖尿病的公共卫生研究提供信息。除了将一些数据直接传输给研究参与者，项目成果将通过社交媒体、公开演讲和开放获取期刊上的出版物等平台与更多公众分享。此外，这项研究将促进与当地研究助理的研究合作，研究人员在冬眠哺乳动物和人类婴儿中研究了 BAT，但很少有研究关注其在成人中的功能。在人类进化中的作用一种针对慢性感冒的适应性防御机制，鉴于其对新陈代谢的生理影响，它也可能有助于降低代谢疾病的风险。在这项研究中，将在低纬度人群中检查 BAT 功能，这些人群的平均体型和体形显示，通过比较室温和轻度寒冷环境下胸部和肩部区域（成人 BAT 的主要位置）的代谢率和散热情况，可以推断出 BAT 在形态上最适合保留热量。血糖水平以及呼吸商（决定代谢底物消耗的比率）将在 BAT 激活之前和之后进行测量，以确定 BAT 对葡萄糖的使用情况。通过确定研究人群中 BAT 的代谢和产热能力，本研究将解析其如何使用。 BAT 可能是冷适应形态的生理反映，并且推而广之，BAT 如何在人类成功分散到不同的生态环境中发挥作用，而与形态无关。更好地了解 BAT 的能量消耗和葡萄糖处理可以提供见解。发挥其潜力BAT 激活的这些潜在健康益处对于肥胖和糖尿病发病率高的地区尤其重要。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优点和知识进行评估，认为值得支持。更广泛的影响审查标准。