Molecular Diabetology Research Laboratory
Diabetes affects more than 8% of the population. The Metabolic Disease Research Lab aims to cure diabetes. In an attempt to find ways to cure diabetes, we are focusing on the two most important cells, hepatocytes and pancreas beta cells which are the first line defense to maintain normal blood glucose levels. We are also expanding our interests to fat cell biology. The MDRL is also trying to raise talented diabetologist who will play an important role in curing diabetes. The scientific identity of the MDRL is molecular physiology. We take advantage of molecular biology and mouse genetics as research tools. We are actively collaborating with researchers in the different but related areas. We are open to anyone who wants to cure diabetes or who can help us to cure diabetes.
1. Regulation of beta-cell differentiation and proliferation
We are trying to understand normal mechanisms of beta cell differentiation and proliferation. We are working on developing a new method to check beta cell proliferation. Our research will contribute to expand the knowledge about normal physiologic signals which control beta-cell development, replication and maintenance. This research effort will contribute to find ways to generate beta-cells for patients with diabetes. At the same time, our effort will facilitate the development of new class anti-diabetic drugs to regenerate beta-cells in vivo.
2. Regulation of glucose metabolism in hepatocytes and pancreas beta-cells
Glucose metabolism in liver and pancreas beta-cells is important in regulating normal blood glucose levels. We are focusing on how the glucose metabolism in these two cells is regulated and how these cells are working properly in response to changing blood glucose levels. We also focus on the mechanism how glucose affects the survival and proliferation of these cells. This research will help to develop the way to improve energy homeostasis in the body.
3. Tissue specific regulation of gene expression in hepatocytes and beta-cells
Liver and pancreas beta cells are highly differentiated cells in a human body. They can sense glucose and handle it in response to fluctuating blood glucose concentrations. Although hepatocytes and beta-cells are quite distinctive, they share specialized machinery to sense blood glucose. We are focusing on the mechanism how the glucose sensing genes are regulated in a tissue specific manner. This effort will help us to understand the fundamentals of these two tissues and guide us to improve the way to regenerate fully functional hapatocytes and beta-cells
4. Functional role of serotonin in metabolically important tissues
We identified and reported that serotonin plays an important role in pancreatic beta-cells. Then we are expanding our interested in the functional role of peripheral serotonin in the regulation of energy metabolism. It has been controversial due to the expression of many different serotonin receptors in different tissues. We are taking advantage of tissue specific gene knock out and tissue specific inducible gene expression technology to tease out the tissue specific role of serotonin in metabolically important tissues.
Diabetes affects more than 8% of the population. The Metabolic Disease Research Lab aims to cure diabetes. In an attempt to find ways to cure diabetes, we are focusing on the two most important cells, hepatocytes and pancreas beta cells which are the first line defense to maintain normal blood glucose levels. We are also expanding our interests to fat cell biology. The MDRL is also trying to raise talented diabetologist who will play an important role in curing diabetes. The scientific identity of the MDRL is molecular physiology. We take advantage of molecular biology and mouse genetics as research tools. We are actively collaborating with researchers in the different but related areas. We are open to anyone who wants to cure diabetes or who can help us to cure diabetes.
