metabolism

From left, Sheila Collins, PhD, Ryan Ceddia, PhD, and Heidi Hamm, PhD, and their colleagues have identified a potential new approach to reducing the global impact of obesity and diabetes. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
September 6, 2023

Releasing a brake that drives obesity and diabetes

Vanderbilt researchers have uncovered a potential new way to help curb the rapidly rising worldwide prevalence of metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes.

By Bill Snyder
Heather Pua, MD, PhD, and Neil Sprenkle, PhD, have discovered a protective role for microRNAs in immune cell macrophages during obesity, potentially opening new therapeutic avenues.
September 5, 2023

MicroRNAs in immune cells help protect against metabolic defects in obesity: study

Vanderbilt researchers have demonstrated that a cluster of microRNAs — small pieces of RNA that regulate gene expression — work in a type of immune cells called macrophages to help protect against metabolic defects in obesity.

By Leigh MacMillan
January 12, 2023

Study may lead to new diabetes, heart disease treatments

Vanderbilt research found that deletion of an autophagy-participating factor named PIK3C3 from the fat cells of mice led to compromised body temperature control, abnormal blood lipid levels, fatty liver and diabetes.

By Bill Snyder
August 25, 2020

Blocking tumor ‘signals’ and ‘fuel’

Combining two drugs reduced colorectal cancer cell growth in vitro and in an animal model, suggesting the combination may be a promising treatment for patients.

By Leigh MacMillan
May 5, 2020

A dual-purpose metabolic switch

John York and colleagues have demonstrated that the protein Vip1 is a rare type of bifunctional enzyme: it can both synthesize and destroy key cellular signaling molecules.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 20, 2020

Transporter mutation alters cell energy

A disease-associated mutation in a transporter protein causes cells to increase energy production, as if they are starving, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.

By Leigh MacMillan
July 11, 2019

New look at atherosclerosis

A new imaging method makes it possible to directly measure cell division and changes in metabolism in atherosclerotic plaques.
By Sanjay Mishra
June 12, 2019

Steroid binding to metabolic enzyme

Understanding how a steroid-metabolizing enzyme binds to its substrates may aid in designing drugs to treat sexual dysfunction as well as prostate cancer.
By Bill Snyder
January 16, 2018

A spicy finding

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that curcumin — the active ingredient in the spice turmeric — needs to be metabolically activated to exert anti-inflammatory effects.
By Leigh MacMillan
July 25, 2017

Altered metabolism and disease

Vanderbilt researchers report a structure of a human metabolic enzyme bound to its substrate 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone.
By VUMC News and Communications
November 10, 2016

Links between immune cells and metabolism explored

At the intersection of immunology and metabolism is a burgeoning new field: immunometabolism. It’s an area where Vanderbilt has exceptional strengths, said Jeffrey Rathmell, Ph.D., Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Immunobiology.
By Leigh MacMillan
September 14, 2016

Restore T cells to fight leukemia

Modulation of T cell metabolism thus may represent a new therapeutic avenue for leukemia patients.
By Bill Snyder
April 14, 2016

Switching breast cancer off

Signaling by a receptor that is overexpressed in aggressive forms of breast cancer has been linked to glutamine metabolism, suggesting new anti-cancer therapeutic targets.
By Marilyn Holt