The kidney regulates food intake and body weight
Tony Lam
Professor at Toronto General Hospital Research Institute & University of Toronto.
Theatre Room, CiMUS
About:
Recent studies in rodents and humans report that small intestinal metformin action regulates glucose homeostasis, but whether gut metformin action regulates energy balance remains unclear. Our data indicate that the small intestine is not necessary for metformin to regulate food intake and body weight. Rather, metformin increases GDF15 expression in the kidney and plasma GDF15 levels which leads to the activation of its receptors in the brain to regulate food intake and weight. These findings indicate that the kidney is a novel therapeutic target for obesity.
Bio:
His laboratory has discovered that nutrient sensing in the small intestine triggers hormonal signaling and a gut-brain pathway to increase glucose tolerance, and is necessary for the anti-diabetic effect of gut microbiome, metformin therapy, and bariatric surgery. They have recently discovered that the kidney regulates feeding, body weight, and glucose homeostasis. Their discoveries reveal molecular targets in the kidney, gut, and the brain that may carry therapeutic potential to lower body weight as well as blood glucose levels in diabetes and obesity, and have been recognized by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as a Milestone in Canadian Health Research. He is the recipient of the Canada Research Chair in Diabetes & Obesity, Kitson McIvor Endowed Chair in Diabetes Research, The Endocrine Society Richard E. Weitzman Memorial Laureate award, the Canada Diabetes Association Young Scientist Award, served as an advisory member of the Keystone Symposia, and delivered the Simon Pierre Noel Award, Joseph and Mable Meites, and the Bela Issekutz Jr Memorial Lectureships.
Host: Miguel López. NeurObesity Group. CiMUS.
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