Deciphering the distal events in insulin action that regulate glucose transport and metabolic function in adipocytes

Obesity and adipocyte dysfunction are main risk factors behind insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

However, the molecular mechanisms causing impaired adipocyte function are not yet resolved.The overall purpose of the current proposal is therefore to investigate how adipose tissue expansion affects the cellular insulin response mechanism.

We hypothesize that the extracellular environment negatively influences actin turnover and distal insulin action in adipocytes, thereby hampering vital processes such as translocation of glucose transporters and lipid storage capacity.

To identify key mechanisms controlling insulin responsiveness we will employ short-term high-fat diet feeding in animal models and humans of both sexes, perform metabolic analyses and high-resolution microscopy.

In parallel, the experimental data will be interconnected by mathematical modelling to create a systems-level understanding of how metabolic dysfunction emerges.The work will be conducted in my research group at Lund University.

We have established a robust experimental platform for metabolic analyses of primary adipocytes, including state-of-the-art imaging techniques.

Our research with high temporal and spatial resolution of molecular events will provide novel understanding of the mechanisms underlying adipocyte dysfunction.

This knowledge is essential to identify therapeutic targets, urgently needed to prevent and treat insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.