Nutritional regulation of hepatic glucose production
Metabolic syndrome diseases, including diabetes, have become a worldwide epidemic affecting millions throughout the world. Dysregulated whole-body energy homeostasis is a hallmark of the metabolic syndrome, and a better understanding of the molecular pathways that become dysregulated during its progression can ultimately lead to the development of new and improved therapies. Our goal is to understand how changes in nutritional and hormonal cues control basic metabolic pathways to modulate whole-body energy homeostasis.
In our lab, we focus on how the liver regulates its ability to produce glucose in response to nutritional and hormonal signals. This regulation is crucial since the liver plays a central role in controlling whole-body glucose homeostasis and excessive hepatic glucose production is the major cause of elevated blood glucose levels. We use metabolomics, proteomics, and genomic approaches to study the molecular changes that occur in the liver during the transition between fasting and refeeding. We hope to be able to manipulate these molecular pathways to improve health.
