Erforschung der energiehomöostatischen Rolle von Transthyretin im Kontext von Fettleibigkeit, Diabetes und Metabolischem Syndrom

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Dysregulation of energy balance leads to diabetes and obesity. It has assumed alarming proportions worldwide. Energy homeostasis is controlled to a high degree by adipokines, hormones produced by fat cells. Recently, the adipokine retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has been identified. It provides a link between fat tissue and systemic energy balance. Transthyretin (TTR) is the transport protein for RBP4 in the bloodstream and delays its renal excretion. The role of transthyretin itself in energy homeostasis however is currently unclear. The current project aims at elucidating transthyretin’s effects on glucose metabolism and the maintenance of body weight. Genetically modified mouse models will be used to investigate insulin and glucose metabolism in different dietary conditions. The in vivo experiments will be comple-mented by in vitro analyses of insulin signaling and adipokine production in specific tissues. The results of these studies may yield important insights into the physiology of energy metabolism and reveal novel perspectives for therapeutic approaches to a significant medical problem.