Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INTERFAT (Elucidating the impact of the microbiome on adipose tissue immune cell interactions during obesity)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2019-06-01 do 2021-05-31
The problem is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the systemic aspects of adipose tissue and the consequences of its deterioration during obesity for our society as a whole. The environment and our social behaviour shape our dietary habits, sleeping and activity patterns, and stress exposure. Such factors serve as “input” cues to our physiology in general and to adipose tissue as a metabolic hub of our body in particular. The tissue generates “output”, because it serves as an endocrine organ secreting different hormones, and it forms a niche populated by immune cells.
Therefore, the overall objectives of InterFat were I) systematically characterize populations of murine adipocytes and adipose tissue immune cells at the steady state and during obesity and II) profile the impact of the intestinal microbiome on adipose tissue composition and function. The microbiome is an important sensor of “input” cues as it is strongly depending on environmental factors such as nutrition and life style.
These data can be exploited to identify cellular and molecular entities, which are involved in the remodelling of adipose tissue during the transition from the physiological state to the obese state for a rational intervention. We have exemplified this by genetic ablation of two molecules involved in lipid homeostasis and indeed find altered dynamics in weight gain, which warrants further studies. Results have been disseminated at international conferences as well as online seminars and helped me to secure a position as an independent junior group leader. The InterFat data will serve as foundation for my future research endeavours.