Obesity and the Digestive System
Min Liu, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Description of Research
Dr. Liu is currently studying the role of apolipoprotein AIV (apo AIV) in the development of obesity and how it can be modulated for preventive and therapeutic purposes. Apo AIV is a circulating signal released from intestinal cells in response to lipid feeding, and it contributes to the anorexic effect of a lipid meal. He has demonstrated that apo AIV is also synthesized in the hypothalamus, and that hypothalamic apo AIV gene and protein expression is regulated physiologically. Current work focuses on the following goals: 1) to determine apo AIV gene expression and protein levels and the responsiveness of apo AIV to dietary lipids in several strains of obese and lean animals. He will also determine the response to chronic high-fat feeding in apo AIV knockout mice, and 2) to determine the interaction of apo AIV with other regulatory peptides. The new knowledge may lead to novel targets for preventive and therapeutic interventions for obesity.
Collaborations and Core Use
Dr. Liu works with Dr. Tso studying the apo A-IV function in the regulation of intestinal absorption and pathogenesis of obesity. Anticipated Core Use: Gene and Protein Expression, Bioinformatics, and Integrative Morphology Cores.
