Month: August 2026

Optimal function of beige adipocytes is essential for energy balance and metabolic homeostasis. We previously identified that cholinergic receptor nicotinic α2 subunit (CHRNA2) mediates a beige fat selective signaling in mice and humans. Here, we investigate the molecular composition of CHRNA2-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in beige adipocytes and its impact on whole-body metabolism. Expression […]

Central administration of fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF19) has been shown to reduce body weight in obese mice, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we show that ribosomal S6 kinase 4 (Rsk4) is required for FGF19 to counteract obesity. Rsk4 is predominantly expressed in hypothalamic neurons. While loss of Rsk4 has negligible effects on […]

Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is regarded as a potential therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes. Hyperglycemia can upregulate the expression of TXNIP in various cell types, thereby inducing oxidative stress. However, the regulatory mechanisms by which this protein modulates vascular function in the aorta remain incompletely elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the response of TXNIP […]

The progressive decline of functional β-cell mass is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes (T2D), yet no current therapies effectively halt this process. While chronic inflammation and metabolic stress contribute to β-cell dysfunction, the key signals integrating these pathways remain elusive. Circulating adenosine deaminase (ADA) elevation in people with diabetes is often viewed as a […]

Impaired cognitive function caused by insulin-induced hypoglycemia is a complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) for which no protective strategies are currently available. In this first-in-human mechanistic study using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the direct contribution of the infused ketone β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) to brain metabolism during clamped hypoglycemia was greater in participants with T1DM than […]

Obesity is a major contributor to cardiometabolic disease, and pharmacological therapies, such as semaglutide, are increasingly used to induce weight loss. However, the commonly used diet-induced obesity model in C57BL/6J mice is limited by relative resistance to weight gain in females, complicating the study of sex-specific effects. Here, we used leptin-deficient ob/ob mice, which develop […]

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) maintains the cellular NAD+ pool, and diminished adipocyte NAMPT activity has been implicated in aging- and obesity-related metabolic dysfunction. We generated adipocyte-specific NAMPT overexpressing (ANOV) mice and examined their metabolic phenotypes. Male ANOV mice were protected from high-fat diet–induced metabolic dysfunction, including the development of adipose tissue inflammation and glucose intolerance. In […]

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) impacts more than 9 million individuals globally. Despite a century since the isolation and clinical introduction of insulin, exogenous insulin injections remain the primary form of treatment for T1D. While continuous glucose monitoring systems and optimized insulin delivery reduce life-threatening hypoglycemic events, they do not provide a permanent cure. Transplantation of […]

The pharmacological actions of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) remain incompletely defined. We evaluated the acute effects of intravenous GIP infusion at a pharmacological dose on glucose homeostasis and cardiovascular responses during hyperglycemia in individuals with T2D. Ten participants, whose T2D was managed by diet and/or metformin monotherapy (n = 4 […]