Bariatric & Metabolic Research
The Bariatric and Metabolic Research laboratory, based at the James A Haley VA Research Building has a primary focus on obesity/metabolic research. To that end, the laboratory has established a rat model of diet-induced obesity which serves as a model for experimental gastric bypass. Using this unique model, the laboratory has established a reproducible model of surgically-induced weight loss in rats and reported the following novel findings:
Gastric bypass in obese rats
- improves steatosis in rat liver
- reduces oxidative stress in liver
- increases lipolysis and decreases lipogenesis thru SCD, LKB1, SIRT1 and AMPK
- downregulates TNF in adipose tissue
- May increase serum and liver adiponectin
- Improves glucose tolerance and increases pancreatic mass
These data are novel, robust and have been well received at surgical meetings. Publications are in preparation.
A second focus is the role of cytokines in systemic inflammation during pancreatitis. With an emphasis on signaling pathways in Kupffer cells during pancreatitis, several novel mechanisms for stress-induced Kupffer cell apoptosis have been described.
The Bariatric and Metabolic Research team includes post-doctoral fellows, surgical residents and medical students. This team has been funded via 2 VA Merit Awards, a VA Career Development Award and USF and ASMBS research grants. The collective number of original publications in peer-reviewed journals (including clinical and basic) exceeds 80 manuscripts since 1998, with an equivalent number of oral or poster presentation in national meetings.
Current research personnel
- Michel Murr, MD
- Yanlina Peng, PhD