Employees of the Department of Physiology have been rewarded the funding for a project "Development of NO-based approaches for guided white adipose tissue browning. Can we tackle metabolic diseases by heating up/cooling down the fat?" WARMED.

warmed.edu.rs

Project coordinators:

Dr. Aleksandra Janković, project leader

Anđelika Kalezić

External advisors:

Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Korać, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade

Dr. Mirjana Udicki Milošević, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad

Zorka Drvendžija, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad

Dr. Sanja Stojanović, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš

Abstract

Induction of white adipose tissue (WAT) browning could be a powerful tool for the treatment of metabolic diseases. However, there is a pressing need for innovative approaches focused not only on induction but on precise regulation of the browning process. Currently, there is a lack of data regarding the mechanisms of browning inhibition. As a result, the concept of therapeutic inhibition of browning is virtually non-existent. WARMED is aimed at developing new redox-based approaches to control brown adipocyte formation. WARMED could be a step forward, in an exciting effort to heal obese adipocytes by in vitro transdifferentiation and re-implantation in the host adipose tissue - as Trojan adipocytes to overcome metabolic diseases from inside. We will investigate the role of a small redox-active molecule, nitric oxide (NO) in WAT browning. The synthesis and signaling of NO will be pharmacologically modulated and browning will be investigated in animal models of cold acclimation and diabetes. To translate those finding and test for therapeutic relevance of WAT browning in obesity and tumorigenesis, molecular biomarkers of NO-directed WAT browning will be investigated in lean, obese and lipoma WAT. Finally, human primary adipocytes and adipose tissue-derived stem cells will be used to develop an in vitro model for NO-directed transdifferentiation. Such model would advance the basis for cell transplantation therapy and contribute to the understanding of the WAT browning in humans. Proposed topic is trans-disciplinary and demands a unique integration of approaches, competencies, and resources from molecular and cell biology, chemistry, physiology, and medicine. Such challenge is ideal for the development of new research directions since it utilizes existing disciplines and developed methodologies to tackle a new and exciting problem. Researches from four institutions across the Republic of Serbia will come together and form a new research group to tackle this intricate problem.