Research Overview
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"Our research focuses on lipid and glucose metabolism, with particular emphasis on the GLYCEROLIPID CYCLE (GL), which is composed of the lipolysis and lipogenesis processes, in adipose tissue and immune cells in health and disease."
Fat cells store excess energy as triacylglycerols through lipogenesis and, when energy is required, break down these lipids through lipolysis to release glycerol and free fatty acids. The overall mass of adipose tissue (AT) is determined by the balance between these two opposing processes, which are interlinked in a metabolic cycle known as the GL cycle. The GL cycle operates in many cell types and tissues and regulates diverse biological processes.
We study the role of the GL cycle and its components within three interconnected themes:
Poursharifi P, et al. Physiol Rev. 2025.
Adipocyte Biology and Energy Metabolism
Contrary to popular belief, the expansion of AT is not always linked to metabolic complications. In fact, AT insufficiency (as in lipodystrophy) or dysfunction (as in obesity) can be major drivers of insulin resistance and metabolic disease. The overall goal of our research is to understand how fat cells store and metabolize energy in both health and disease. We are particularly interested in the processes of lipolysis and lipogenesis that allow AT to remain flexible and maintain proper immunometabolic functions during energy surplus.
Macrophage and Immunometabolism
Immunometabolism is an emerging field that explores the bidirectional relationship between the immune system and cellular and molecular metabolism. A key aspect of this field is understanding how metabolic pathways regulate immune cell activation, differentiation, and survival. Our research focuses on the underappreciated role of the GL cycle and its components in macrophage metabolism, immune function, and polarization during both metabolic and bacterial inflammation.
Fat and Immune Cells Crosstalk
Another important dimension of immunometabolism is the dynamic crosstalk between immune and non-immune cells. Our research investigates the GL cycle–derived metabolites, signaling molecules, and bioactive lipids in the interactions between adipocytes and immune cells, and how these processes contribute to metabolic and inflammation-associated disorders.
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