Basic Research

Instruction

Basic Research

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that exhibits insulin sensitizing properties, although the use of adiponectin as a therapeutic treatmentis infeasible due to its high circulating serum concentration, short half-life, complex molecular structure, and the discovery of adiponectin resistance. The beneficial effects of adiponectin are mediated by the adaptor protein APPL1, and its molecular signaling characteristics are of interest, as they are potential therapeutic targets.

Basic Research

Applied Research

Adipose stromal cells (ASCs) are the major source for some adipose tissue-derived, tumor-promoting factors including estrogens and various cytokines. Emerging evidence indicates that circulating ASCs are distinctly associated with obese individuals, in particular obese cancer patients. Functionally, circulating ASCs can travel to tumor stroma in distant organs to promote tumor progression. However, as circulating ASCs are relatively rare, they are unlikely to outnumber resident ASCs that are often abundantly present in tumor stroma.

Applied Research

Dopaminergic amacrine neurons are the only source of dopamine in the retina. Released locally at synapse- like varicosities to target neurons and also in a paracrine fashion to diffusely affect the retina, dopamine is critical in adjusting the retina from nighttime to daytime vision. Intriguing data from published studies indicate that dopaminergic processes and varicosities closely associate with the retinal capillaries, not just neurons, but whether dopamine is vasoactive in retina as in brain is unknown.

The long-term goal of this study is to improve the health and well-being of older Americans. Our immediate goal is to examine how disruption of mitochondrial function is linked with the aging process. In recent years, it has become clear that defects in the electron transport chain of mitochondria, the key site of energy production in cells are linked with many age-related diseases - including heart disease, Type II diabetes, Parkinson Disease, Alzheimer's dementia, and cancer. 15% of the US population suffers from these chronic degenerative disorders.