Research Interest: My lab focuses on the
involvement of the heme oxygenase (HO) system and nuclear receptors in
metabolic diseases, which includes obesity and diabetes as well as cancer. The
HO system maintains metabolic balance by signaling to biliverdin reductase that
produces the antioxidant, bilirubin. My lab looks at the how HO, bilirubin, and
nuclear receptors signal for balance in metabolic disorders. We are currently
studying how bilirubin can aid the nutrient and lipid sensing nuclear receptors,
the PPARs (PPAR alpha, PPAR gamma, and PPAR delta), in the maintenance of
metabolic homeostasis. Other nuclear receptors are stress sensing, such as the
glucocorticoid receptors (GRalpha and GR beta), which regulate the immune
system balance and glucose production during times of stress. Altogether, we
look at the PPARs and GRs regulation of the balance of lipids and glucose as
well as maintain growth of cancer cells.
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