Bioactive peptides from human brown fat cells mediating metabolic control
| Title | Bioactive peptides from human brown fat cells mediating metabolic control |
|---|---|
| Acronym | Balder |
| Start date | 2021-02-15 |
| End date | 2026-02-14 |
| Sponsor | European Research Council - Consolidator Grant (ERC-CoG) |
| Institution | University of Copenhagen |
Associated cell lines
Project Description
Brown fat secretes signalling molecules called batokines, but the biological effects of batokines on distal tissues are unclear. Our overall hypothesis is that the energetic state of BAT will be communicated to the CNS, via batokines, to mediate appetite control, in a BAT-brain axis. To test this, we will identify novel batokines and establish 3D-cultures of appetite-regulating neurons, including human ESC-derived AgRP and POMC neurons as well as of murine primary hypothalamic neurons. These models will be incorporated with high-content screening and imaging approaches. Successful batokines will be tested for metabolic effects in mice models, and targeted neurons and signalling pathways will be tracked down to a single cell level with the overall goal of discovering novel appetite-regulating circuits to identify new strategies to target obesity and its related diseases.