Objective
Among the branched-chain amino acids, leucine is known to decrease food intake via mTORC1-dependent mechanisms. We now hypothesize that leucine protects against diet-induced obesity (DIO) by having a beneficial effect on inflammation and insulin sensitivity. We postulate that these effects are due to leucine’s ability to affect intracellular pathways that modulate energy balance as well as protein synthesis, inflammation and mitochondrial function. To study leucine’s effects on the development of DIO, in Aim 1 C57BL/6 mice will receive either low-fat chow or high-fat diet (HFD), and half will receive leucine in the drinking water. After 12 weeks, we will evaluate glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, in vivo body composition and energy expenditure. Food intake will be assessed in these mice after receiving acute leptin, to verify whether leucine supplementation halts the development of DIO-associated leptin resistance. At sacrifice, tissues and blood will be collected for assessment of inflammatory cytokines. Activation of the mTOR pathway and of the inflammatory pathway involving nuclear factor-kappa B and SOCS-3 will be studied in the hypothalamus. mRNA levels of hypothalamic neuropeptides regulating food intake and of genes involved in thermogenesis and mitochondrial activity will be measured. In Aim 2, we will study leucine’s effects once the DIO phenotype has developed. Half a group of DIO mice will continue on HFD for 12 weeks; the other half will be switched to chow to verify that (a) leucine supplementation facilitates body weight loss, (b) leucine’s effects in DIO mice resemble those obtained by returning mice to chow. Animals will then undergo the metabolic and molecular analysis described earlier. This novel project will explore leucine’s actions during DIO and body weight loss. Our findings will clarify whether and in which way this nutrient might ease the obese condition and help halt its epidemic.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes drinking water treatment processes
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry amines
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition obesity
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
75654 PARIS
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.