Objective "Obesity is the result of a mismatch between energy intake and energy expenditure. Part if excess calories will end up as fatty acids. The excess lipid will interfere with normal glucose homeostasis resulting in diabetes and other complications. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a tissue with high rates of lipid oxidation, making it an ideal organ burn excess fuel to control body weight. Recently it has been shown that BAT exists in humans being predominantly present in lean, young healthy humans opposed to humans that are obese.Typically BAT is activated in cold exposure to increase body temperature. This signal is mediated via activation of transient receptor potential channels (i.e. extreme-cold receptor transient receptor potential channel member A1(TRPA1)) in nerve endings. The cold signal then reaches the hypothalamus via afferent neuronal pathways. Via activation of certain cerebral nuclei, a sympathetic response is produced that reaches end organs such as BAT. TRPA1 can also be activated by allyl-isothiocyanate (AITC, present in mustard). AITC in animal studies induces energy expenditure. The end transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member (1 TRPV1), is an other receptor that activates energy expenditure via the natural compound capsaicin.We suggest that the activation of BAT is a promising target to increase energy expenditure in humans. The aim of this fellowship is to investigate the activation of energy expenditure via various protocols such as cold and the administration of AITC and capsaicin in healthy humans and obese subjects.Included subjects will undergo test protocols under two temperature conditions (thermoneutrality and cold), AITC and capsaicin administration. In these protocols we will also assess the role of the sympathetic nervous system (beta-blockade), glucose and lipid metabolism (stable isotope studies) and imaging by infrared thermography and fluorodeoxy glucose positron-emission tomography." Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologynatural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysisnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipidsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologyhomeostasismedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionobesity Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Address Trinity lane the old schools CB2 1TN Cambridge United Kingdom See on map Region East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Renata Schaeffer (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data
