Investigating the mechanisms in sympathetic neurons that link sleep to obesity

研究交感神经元将睡眠与肥胖联系起来的机制

• 批准号: BB/Y006488/1
• 负责人: Ana Domingos
• 金额: $ 79.96万
• 依托单位: University of Oxford
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2024 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=BB%2FY006488%2F1
• 关键词: Investigating; mechanisms; sympathetic; neurons; link

Obesity is a major health problem that affects many people worldwide. Unfortunately, there are limited options available to treat obesity, including surgery and medications that suppress appetite, which can be expensive and irreversible. Lifestyle changes and dieting are less expensive but often ineffective because they can lead to a compensatory decrease in energy expenditure, making it difficult to lose weight in the long term. This is because when we reduce our food intake, our body's metabolism adapts to save energy, which can counteract weight loss during dieting.To overcome this problem, we are trying to understand the biological mechanisms behind metabolic adaptation to fasting. One important aspect of this research is to investigate the role of thermogenesis, a process that dissipates energy in the form of heat, and how it is affected by rest and sympathetic neurons. Recent studies in humans and mice have shown that adrenergic beta 2 (adrb2) agonists can boost thermogenesis and energy expenditure, potentially making it easier to lose weight.The goal of this research proposal is to better understand the molecular mechanisms behind metabolic adaptation to fasting and the role of adrb2 in thermogenesis and energy expenditure. The research will use mice to investigate whether adrb2 agonism can mitigate metabolic adaptation to fasting, and whether this effect is dependent on the function of adrb2 in sympathetic neurons that control thermogenic adipose tissue. We also aim to understand whether lack of rest, consequence of sleep deprivation, alters metabolic adaptation to fasting and whether this is connected to lower adrb2 signaling in sympathetic neurons and sympathetic neurodegeneration within thermogenic adipose tissue. We think that this is important to study because it is well known that humans and animals that are sleep deprived gain more weight.Overall, this research aims to provide insights into new approaches to treat obesity that are effective, safe, and affordable. By understanding the molecular mechanisms behind metabolic adaptation to fasting and the role of adrb2 in thermogenesis, other researchers may be able to develop new medications or therapies that can help people lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

肥胖是影响全世界许多人的主要健康问题。不幸的是，治疗肥胖的选择有限，包括手术和抑制食欲的药物，这些方法可能昂贵且不可逆转。生活方式的改变和节食成本较低，但往往无效，因为它们会导致能量消耗的代偿性减少，从而使长期减肥变得困难。这是因为当我们减少食物摄入量时，我们身体的新陈代谢会适应节省能量，这会抵消节食期间的体重减轻。为了克服这个问题，我们正在尝试了解代谢适应禁食背后的生物学机制。这项研究的一个重要方面是研究生热作用（一种以热的形式耗散能量的过程）的作用，以及它如何受到休息和交感神经元的影响。最近对人类和小鼠的研究表明，肾上腺素β2 (adrb2) 激动剂可以促进产热和能量消耗，可能使减肥变得更容易。这项研究计划的目标是更好地了解禁食和代谢适应背后的分子机制。 adrb2 在产热和能量消耗中的作用。该研究将利用小鼠来研究 adrb2 激动是否可以减轻对禁食的代谢适应，以及这种作用是否依赖于控制生热脂肪组织的交感神经元中的 adrb2 功能。我们还旨在了解睡眠不足导致的缺乏休息是否会改变对禁食的代谢适应，以及这是否与交感神经元中的 adrb2 信号传导降低以及产热脂肪组织内的交感神经变性有关。我们认为这一点的研究很重要，因为众所周知，睡眠不足的人类和动物体重会增加。总体而言，这项研究旨在为有效、安全且负担得起的治疗肥胖的新方法提供见解。通过了解禁食代谢适应背后的分子机制以及 adrb2 在生热作用中的作用，其他研究人员也许能够开发出新的药物或疗法，帮助人们减肥和保持健康的生活方式。