Speaker: Marc Claret, Ph.D.
Diabetes and Obesity Laboratory
IDIBAPS – Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
Barcelona

HOST

Dr.Antonio Zorzano, IRB Barcelona

Wednesday, 7 April 2010, 13:00h, Aula Fèlix Serratosa

ABSTRACT

During the last 15 years, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms implicated in energy homeostasis and metabolism control have received significant progress. In particular, the mediobasal hypothalamus has been firmly established as a critical regulator of these biological processes, being able to sense, integrate and coordinate precise responses from a variety of hormones and metabolites.
One of the most exciting recent findings in this field is that AMPK, an evolutionarily conserved sensor of cellular energy status, also plays a pivotal role in systemic energy balance. In the hypothalamus, AMPK signalling acts as a sensor of nutrients and hormones thereby regulating whole-body energy homeostasis. However, the precise neuronal populations and cellular mechanisms involved are unknown. In order to further understand the role of the hypothalamic AMPK energy-sensing cascade upon metabolic control, we have generated mice lacking AMPK or its upstream kinase LKB1 specifically in POMC or AgRP neurons, key regulators of energy balance. Our findings reveal critical but divergent physiological roles for AMPK and LKB1 in these populations of neurons on energy and glucose homeostasis. This data provide further understanding into the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of obesity and disordered glucose metabolism and may give new insights for the development of potential therapeutic agents.

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