AKC Seminar: Novel players in exercise-mediated protection against metabolic disease

August Krogh Seminar

Associate Professor Pontus Almer Boström

Cell- and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

Abstract

We focus on the powerful effects on physical activity and exercise. With sufficient molecular understanding, we believe that we could harness the effects of exercise on the organism for future therapies against metabolic diseases.

We have identified a novel hormone, which we named Irisin (Bostrom et al, Nature 2012). Irisin is a highly conserved polypeptide, regulated by PGC1a, secreted from muscle to plasma after exercise and promotes the formation of brown fat via an unknown receptor.

Currently, my lab focuses on the identification of the Irisin receptor, but also on other, novel exercise-factors and their impact on whole-body energy metabolism. In particular, we have zoomed in on “Irisin2” – a close homolog to Irisin, where our preliminary data suggest an important effect in hepatocytes and immune cells. We have also developed a transcriptional map of all exercise-induced changes in metabolically active organs. This will be useful for screening new exercise-factors for biological effects.

Although we primarily work in primary cell cultures and with biochemical methods, we also conduct many of our experiments in physiologically relevant mouse models using FC-fusion proteins and transgenic mice.

For clinical relevance, all novel factors are tested in well characterized human cohorts of exercise and type II diabetes. Our long term goal is to develop a novel therapeutic based on the biology evoked with physical activity and exercise. 

Time

30 November 2012 14:00-15:30

Venue

Auditorium 1, August Krogh Building, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen

Registration

Participation is free, but please register here.

For PhD students

PhD students participating in August Krogh seminars receive 0,2 ECTS per seminar

Contact

Christian Frøsig

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