Department: Division of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism, Molecular Medicine

E-mail: sihem.boudina@hmbg.utah.edu
Address: 15 N. 2030 East, EIHG, Bldg #533, Room 3145
Phone: 585-6833

Research Title: The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in White Adipose Tissue Expansion in Diet-Induced Obesity

Description of Research:

Obesity is a major public health problem. Indeed, the number of obese individuals worldwide has reached 2.1 billion, leading to an explosion of obesity-related health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease  

Our recent work demonstrated that treatment of mice with an antioxidant reduces weight gain induced by high fat feeding in mice independently of modulating food intake or energy expenditure. We found that in addition to systemic effects, such as lowering basal blood glucose levels and improving ATP generation in skeletal muscle, antioxidants reduced adiposity, inflammation and apoptosis in white adipose tissue (WAT).

Potential projects available this summer are:
(1)     Characterizing the cell type responsible for reactive oxygen species (ROS) in white adipose tissue (WAT) of mice fed a high fat diet.

(2)     Identify the mechanisms responsible for increased ROS production in WAT in diet-induced obesity.

(3)     Determine whether increased mitochondrial superoxide production modulates the proliferation and differentiation of WAT progenitor cells.


Does this research involve human subjects or animals? Yes

If yes, what is the protocol number? 09-08011

11/2009