Adipose Tissue Molecular Biology and Gene Regulation and Associated Disorders
Research Program
Leaders
Where we are
Institut de Biomedicina de la UB (IBUB)
Related websites
Institut de Biomedicina de la UB (IBUB) Our research group focuses its research on the study of the molecular and physiological basis that control energy metabolism and how they relate to human pathologies. We investigate the molecular mechanisms controlling adipogenesis, muscle and hepatic differentiation in relation to fat metabolism and functionality. This calls for the development of experimental models at various levels: subcellular, cellular and animal models, as well as the analysis of biological material from patients with obesity, diabetes, lipodystrophy and other metabolic diseases.
Our group has been a member of CIBEROBN (Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Obesity and Nutrition) since its foundation and a recognised consolidated group for over 15 years (Government of Catalonia, 2017 SGR 330). Furthermore, our group leader is an investigator at the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA Acadèmia).
Scientific objectives
- To establish the differential secretome of various adipose tissue types and determine their signalling properties and potential use as biomarkers of metabolic disease.
- To identify novel mediator molecules in the inter-organ communication pathway implicated in controlling energy metabolism, with special emphasis on crosstalk between adipose tissue, heart, liver and intestine, as well as immune cells.
Area/Field of expertise
- Molecular gene transcription studies.
- Specialised cell cultures of different types of adipocytes and differentiated muscle cells, cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes.
- Metabolic disease animal models, targeted modification (invalidation, transgenesis) of candidate genes implicated in obesity and metabolic disease.
- Analytical micromethods of biological material adapted to the study of limited amounts of biological material of human origin (biopsies).
- Mass data collection and analysis (RNA sequencing, microarrays, etc.) methods.
Group members
-
Investigador post-doc
-
Investigador pre-doc
-
Investigador post-doc
-
Investigador
-
Investigador
-
Investigador
-
Técnico
-
Investigador
-
Jefe de Grupo Senior
-
Investigador pre-doc
-
Técnico
-
Técnico
-
Investigador pre-doc
-
Investigador pre-doc
-
Investigador
-
Investigador post-doc
-
Investigador post-doc
-
Investigador
Last Publications
- Barroso, Sergio, Guitart-Mampel, Mariona, Garcia-Garcia, Francesc Josep, Canto-Santos, Judith, Valls-Roca, Laura, Andujar-Sanchez, Felix, Vilaseca-Capel, Adria, Tobias, Ester, Arias-Dimas, Angela, Quesada-Lopez, Tania, Artuch-Iriberri R, Villarroya-Gombau F, Giralt, Marta, Martinez, Esteban, Lozano, Ester and Garrabou, Gloria Metabolic, Mitochondrial, and Inflammatory Effects of Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Asymptomatic Antiretroviral-Naïve People with HIV INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES . 25(15): .
- Peyman M, Babin-Ebell A, Rodríguez-Rodríguez R, Rigon M, Aguilar-Recarte D, Villarroya-Terrade J, Planavila A, Villarroya-Gombau F, Palomer FX, Barroso E and Vazquez M SIRT1 regulates hepatic vldlr levels CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING . 22(1): 297-297.
- Fernández-García P, Taxerås SD, Reyes-Farias M, González L, Soria-Gondek A, Pellitero S, Tarascó J, Moreno P, Sumoy L, Stephens JM, Yoo LG, Galán M, Izquierdo A, Medina-Gómez G, Herrero L, Corrales P, Villarroya-Gombau F, Cereijo R and Sánchez-Infantes D Claudin-1 as a novel target gene induced in obesity and associated to inflammation, fibrosis and cell differentiation. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY . 190(3): 201-210.
Theses
-
Involvement of Alternative Splicing Regulation in Adipose Tissue Thermogenic Induction
- Institution
- UNIVERSIDAD DE BARCELONA
-
Experimental and human studies on aging of adipose tissues: role of Parkin
- Institution
- UNIVERSIDAD DE BARCELONA
-
Papel de la enterocina FGF15/19 en la plasticidad adiposa y cardíaca
- Author
- Morón Ros, Samantha
- Institution
- UNIVERSIDAD DE BARCELONA
News
-
Brown adipose tissue activity is higher in girls during the first year of life
A team led by Dr Lourdes Ibáñez and Dr Francesc Villarroya, IRSJD researchers, publishes the first study that shows the very early appearance of differences in the activity of the brown adipose tissue between girls and boys.
-
Supplementing the maternal diet with betaine during lactation may reduce the risk of childhood obesity
Decreased levels of betaine in breast milk are associated with accelerated growth in babies during the first few months of life, a risk factor for childhood obesity. Study led by a research team from the Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu and SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital, published in the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine.