Overview

My laboratory is interested in understanding the impact, and underlying mechanisms, of exercise, nutrition and pharmaceutical interventions on fat tissue (adipose) and the liver and in turn how this influences how the body utilizes and stores fat and carbohydrate. A particular area of emphasis over the past few years has been examining the metabolic side effects of antipsychotic medications, a class of drugs that are prescribed to individuals with schizophrenia. In this area of research, we have been attempting to identify the utility of lifestyle approaches, i.e. diet and exercise, to offset weight gain and hyperglycemia caused by antipsychotic medications.

Publications

Amylin receptor agonism enhances the effects of liraglutide in protecting against the acute metabolic side effects of olanzapine
iScience
Kyle D. Medak and Stewart Jeromson and Annalaura Bellucci and Meagan Arbeau and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108628
01/2024

Liver triacylglycerol accumulation but not postprandial lipemia is reduced by a skim milk powder diet in male rats
Nutrition Research
Kyle D. Medak and Greg L. McKie and Willem T. Peppler and Hesham Shamshoum and Hana A. Dibe and David M. Mutch and Andrea R. Josse and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2023.09.003
11/2023

Skeletal muscle, not adipose tissue, mediates cold-induced metabolic benefits
Nature Metabolism
Logan K. Townsend and Dongdong Wang and David C. Wright and Denis P. Blondin
DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00837-4
06/2023

Acute interleukin-6 modulates key enzymes involved in prefrontal cortex and hippocampal amyloid precursor protein processing
Journal of Applied Physiology
Daniel M. Marko and Michael S. Finch and Alex J. T. Yang and Laura N. Castellani and Willem T. Peppler and David C. Wright and Rebecca E. K. MacPherson
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00520.2022
05/2023

Thermoneutral housing and preexisting obesity do not abolish the sexually dimorphic effects of olanzapine on weight gain in mice
Obesity
Ian Seguin and Kyle D. Medak and Hesham Shamshoum and Margaret K. Hahn and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1002/oby.23630
02/2023

An obesogenic diet uncovers disparate changes in uncoupling protein 1 content and lipid synthesis and storage in rat brown adipose tissue
The Journal of Physiology
David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1113/JP284107
01/2023

Ketogenic diet-induced weight loss occurs independent of housing temperature and is followed by hyperphagia and weight regain after cessation in mice
The Journal of Physiology
Alyssa Weber and Kyle D. Medak and Logan K. Townsend and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1113/JP283469
11/2022

Fasting or the short-term consumption of a ketogenic diet protects against antipsychotic-induced hyperglycaemia in mice
The Journal of Physiology
Hesham Shamshoum and Kyle D. Medak and Greg L. McKie and Margaret K. Hahn and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1113/JP282922
06/2022

Plant and marine N3-PUFA regulation of fatty acid trafficking along the adipose tissue-liver axis varies according to nutritional state
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Alex Rajna and Liam Hayden Brown and Sara Michaela Frangos and Melissa Gonzalez-Soto and Barbora Hucik and Chenxuan Wang and David Charles Wright and David Michael Mutch
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2022.108940
04/2022

Intermittent cold exposure improves glucose homeostasis despite exacerbating diet-induced obesity in mice housed at thermoneutrality
The Journal of Physiology
Greg L. McKie and Hesham Shamshoum and Kristin L. Hunt and Hayley H. A. Thorpe and Hana A. Dibe and Jibran Y. Khokhar and Christine A. Doucette and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1113/JP281774
02/2022

The glucose lowering effects of CL 316,243 dissipate with repeated use and are rescued by cilostamide
Physiological Reports
Kyle D. Medak and Greg L. McKie and Hesham Shamshoum and Ian Seguin and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15187
02/2022

CHOP is dispensable for exercise-induced increases in GDF15
Journal of Applied Physiology
Logan K. Townsend and Kyle Medak and Alyssa J. Weber and Hana Dibe and Hesham Shamshoum and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00698.2021
02/2022

Ckmt1 is Dispensable for Mitochondrial Bioenergetics Within White/Beige Adipose Tissue
Function
Politis-Barber, V. and Petrick, H.L. and Raajendiran, A. and Desormeaux, G.J. and Brunetta, H.S. and Dos Reis, L.M. and Mori, M.A. and Wright, D.C. and Watt, M.J. and Holloway, G.P.
DOI: 10.1093/function/zqac037
2022

Influence of weighted downhill running training on serial sarcomere number and work loop performance in the rat soleus
Biology Open
Hinks, A. and Jacob, K. and Mashouri, P. and Medak, K.D. and Franchi, M.V. and Wright, D.C. and Brown, S.H.M. and Power, G.A.
DOI: 10.1242/bio.059491
2022

GDF15 is an exercise-induced hepatokine regulated by glucagon and insulin in humans
Frontiers in Endocrinology
Plomgaard, P. and Hansen, J.S. and Townsend, L.K. and Gudiksen, A. and Secher, N.H. and Clemmesen, J.O. and St?ving, R.K. and Goetze, J.P. and Wright, D.C. and Pilegaard, H.
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1037948
2022

Topical application of the pharmacological cold mimetic menthol stimulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis through a TRPM8, UCP1, and norepinephrine dependent mechanism in mice housed at thermoneutrality
FASEB Journal
McKie, G.L. and Medak, K.D. and Shamshoum, H. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101905RR
2022

An increase in serial sarcomere number induced via weighted downhill running improves work loop performance in the rat soleus
bioRxiv
Hinks, A. and Jacob, K. and Mashouri, P. and Medak, K.D. and Franchi, M.V. and Wright, D.C. and Brown, S.H.M. and Power, G.A.
DOI: 10.1101/2022.02.18.481073
2022

New Horizon: Exercise and a Focus on Tissue-Brain Crosstalk
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Logan K Townsend and Rebecca E K MacPherson and David C Wright
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab333
07/2021

Peripheral mechanisms of acute olanzapine induced metabolic dysfunction: A review of in vivo models and treatment approaches
Behavioural Brain Research
Hesham Shamshoum and Kyle D. Medak and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113049
02/2021

Voluntary physical activity protects against olanzapine-induced hyperglycemia
Journal of Applied Physiology
Hesham Shamshoum and Greg L. McKie and Kyle D. Medak and Kristen E. Ashworth and Bruce E. Kemp and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00876.2020
02/2021

AMPK mediates energetic stress-induced liver GDF15
FASEB Journal
Townsend, L.K. and Weber, A.J. and Day, E.A. and Shamshoum, H. and Shaw, S.J. and Perry, C.G.R. and Kemp, B.E. and Steinberg, G.R. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1096/fj.202000954R
2021

Voluntary physical activity protects against olanzapine-induced hyperglycemia
Journal of Applied Physiology
Shamshoum, H. and McKie, G.L. and Medak, K.D. and Ashworth, K.E. and Kemp, B.E. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/JAPPLPHYSIOL.00876.2020
2021

The confounding effects of sub-thermoneutral housing temperatures on aerobic exercise-induced adaptations in mouse subcutaneous white adipose tissue
Biology Letters
McKie, G.L. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0171
2021

Biochemical adaptations in white adipose tissue following aerobic exercise: from mitochondrial biogenesis to browning
Biochemical Journal
Greg L. McKie and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1042/BCJ20190466
03/2020

Epinephrine responsiveness is reduced in livers from trained mice
Physiological Reports
Hana A. Dibe and Logan K. Townsend and Greg L. McKie and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14370
02/2020

Exercise and Dairy Protein have Distinct Effects on Indices of Liver and Systemic Lipid Metabolism
Obesity
Logan K. Townsend and Shivam Gandhi and Hesham Shamshoum and Sarah K. Trottier and David M. Mutch and Raylene A. Reimer and Jane Shearer and Paul J. LeBlanc and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1002/oby.22621
01/2020

Adipose tissue (adipokinome), skeletal muscle (myokinome), and liver (hepatokinome) as endocrine regulators during exercise
The Routledge Handbook on Biochemistry of Exercise
Townsend, L.K. and McKie, G.L. and Shamshoum, H. and Wright, D.C.
2020

Reactive oxygen species-dependent regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-4 in white adipose tissue
American journal of physiology. Cell physiology
Townsend, L.K. and Weber, A.J. and Barbeau, P.-A. and Holloway, G.P. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00313.2019
2020

Cardiac CapZ regulation during acute exercise
bioRxiv
Laskary, A. and Townsend, L.K. and Wright, D. and Pyle, W.G.
DOI: 10.1101/2020.03.03.975185
2020

Recent advances in the role of interleukin-6 in health and disease
Current Opinion in Pharmacology
Peppler, W.T. and Townsend, L.K. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2020.04.010
2020

GLP1 receptor agonism protects against acute olanzapine-induced hyperglycemia
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Medak, K.D. and Shamshoum, H. and Peppler, W.T. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/AJPENDO.00309.2020
2020

Effect of acute high-intensity interval exercise on whole-body fat oxidation and subcutaneous adipose tissue cell signaling in overweight women
International Journal of Exercise Science
Islam, H. and Smith, M.M.W. and Scribbans, T.D. and McCrady, E. and Castellani, L.N. and Allen, M.D. and Wright, D.C. and Simpson, C.A. and Gurd, B.J.
2020

Housing temperature affects the acute and chronic metabolic adaptations to exercise in mice
The Journal of Physiology
Greg L. McKie and Kyle D. Medak and Carly M. Knuth and Hesham Shamshoum and Logan K. Townsend and Willem T. Peppler and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1113/JP278221
09/2019

Looking on the “brite” side exercise-induced browning of white adipose tissue
Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology
Logan K. Townsend and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1007/s00424-018-2177-1
03/2019

Loss of glucagon signaling alters white adipose tissue browning
FASEB Journal
Townsend, L.K. and Medak, K.D. and Knuth, C.M. and Peppler, W.T. and Charron, J. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1096/fj.201802048RR
2019

Acute administration of IL-6 improves indices of hepatic glucose and insulin homeostasis in lean and obese mice
American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology
Peppler, W.T. and Townsend, L.K. and Meers, G.M. and Panasevich, M.R. and Macpherson, R.E.K. and Rector, R.S. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00097.2018
2019

Female mice are protected against acute olanzapine-induced hyperglycemia
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Medak, K.D. and Townsend, L.K. and Hahn, M.K. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104413
2019

Distinct Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolites in Response to Weight Loss Induced by Either Dairy or Exercise in a Rodent Model of Obesity
Journal of Proteome Research
Mayengbam, S. and Mickiewicz, B. and Trottier, S.K. and Mu, C. and Wright, D.C. and Reimer, R.A. and Vogel, H.J. and Shearer, J.
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00304
2019

A blend of fatty acids, organic acids, and phytochemicals induced changes in intestinal morphology and inflammatory gene expression in coccidiosis-vaccinated broiler chickens
Poultry Science
McKnight, L.L. and Peppler, W. and Wright, D.C. and Page, G. and Han, Y.
DOI: 10.3382/ps/pez241
2019

AMPK ß1 activation suppresses antipsychotic-induced hyperglycemia in mice
FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Shamshoum, H. and Medak, K.D. and Townsend, L.K. and Ashworth, K.E. and Bush, N.D. and Hahn, M.K. and Kemp, B.E. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901820R
2019

High-saturated-fat diet-induced obesity causes hepatic interleukin-6 resistance via endoplasmic reticulum stress
Journal of Lipid Research
Townsend, L.K. and Medak, K.D. and Peppler, W.T. and Meers, G.M. and Scott Rector, R. and LeBlanc, P.J. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1194/jlr.M092510
2019

Deficiency of the autophagy gene ATG16L1 induces insulin resistance through KLHL9/KLHL13/CUL3-mediated IRS1 degradation
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Frendo-Cumbo, S. and Jaldin-Fincati, J.R. and Coyaud, E. and Laurent, E.M.N. and Townsend, L.K. and Tan, J.M.J. and Xavier, R.J. and Pillon, N.J. and Raught, B. and Wright, D.C. and Brumell, J.H. and Klip, A.
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA119.009110
2019

Regulation of Hepatic Follistatin Expression at Rest and during Exercise in Mice
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Peppler, W.T. and Castellani, L.N. and Root-Mccaig, J. and Townsend, L.K. and Sutton, C.D. and Frendo-Cumbo, S. and Medak, K.D. and Macpherson, R.E.K. and Charron, M.J. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001893
2019

Prior exercise training improves cold tolerance independent of indices associated with non-shivering thermogenesis
The Journal of Physiology
Carly M. Knuth and Willem T. Peppler and Logan K. Townsend and Paula M. Miotto and Anders Gudiksen and David C. Wright
DOI: 10.1113/JP276228
09/2018

Exercise Protects Against Olanzapine-Induced Hyperglycemia in Male C57BL/6J Mice
Scientific Reports
Castellani, L.N. and Peppler, W.T. and Miotto, P.M. and Bush, N. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19260-x
2018

Subcutaneous inguinal white adipose tissue is responsive to, but dispensable for, the metabolic health benefits of exercise
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Peppler, W.T. and Townsend, L.K. and Knuth, C.M. and Foster, M.T. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00226.2017
2018

Obesity exacerbates the acute metabolic side effects of olanzapine
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Townsend, L.K. and Peppler, W.T. and Bush, N.D. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.12.004
2018

Rosiglitazone is superior to resveratrol in inducing the expression of glyceroneogenic genes in adipose tissue from obese participants
Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Beaudoin, M.-S. and Gaudio, N. and Reed, J.K. and Foute-Nelong, J. and Mutch, D.M. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0606
2018

Dietary mannoheptulose does not alter glucose or lipid metabolism in adult Labrador Retrievers
Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition
McKnight, L.L. and France, J. and Wright, D. and Davenport, G. and Shoveller, A.K.
DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12713
2018

AICAR prevents acute olanzapine-induced disturbances in glucose homeostasis
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Bush, N.D. and Townsend, L.K. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1124/jpet.118.248393
2018

Estradiol does not directly regulate adipose lipolysis
Adipocyte
MacDonald, T.L. and MacPherson, R. and Castellani, L. and Cervone, D. and Anderson, E. and Wright, D.C. and Dyck, D.J.
DOI: 10.1080/21623945.2017.1287638
2017

Alcohol extract of North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) reduces fatty liver, dyslipidemia, and other complications of metabolic syndrome in a mouse model
Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
Singh, R.K. and Lui, E. and Wright, D. and Taylor, A. and Bakovic, M.
DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2016-0510
2017

Dairy Attenuates Weight Gain to a Similar Extent as Exercise in Rats Fed a High-Fat, High-Sugar Diet
Obesity
Trottier, S.K. and MacPherson, R.E.K. and Knuth, C.M. and Townsend, L.K. and Peppler, W.T. and Mikhaeil, J.S. and Leveille, C.F. and LeBlanc, P.J. and Shearer, J. and Reimer, R.A. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1002/oby.21941
2017

Central-Acting therapeutics alleviate respiratory weakness caused by heart failure-induced ventilatory overdrive
Science Translational Medicine
Foster, A.J. and Platt, M.J. and Huber, J.S. and Eadie, A.L. and Arkell, A.M. and Romanova, N. and Wright, D.C. and Gillis, T.E. and Murrant, C.L. and Brunt, K.R. and Simpson, J.A.
DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aag1303
2017

Glucagon receptor knockout mice are protected against acute olanzapine-induced hyperglycemia
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Castellani, L.N. and Peppler, W.T. and Sutton, C.D. and Whitfield, J. and Charron, M.J. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.05.005
2017

Microbiome and NAFLD: Potential influence of aerobic fitness and lifestyle modification
Physiological Genomics
Panasevich, M.R. and Peppler, W.T. and Oerther, D.B. and Wright, D.C. and Rector, R.S.
DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00012.2017
2017

Cycling our way to fit fat
Physiological Reports
Townsend, L.K. and Knuth, C.M. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13247
2017

Proliferative endocrine effects of adipose tissue from obese animals on MCF7 cells are ameliorated by resveratrol supplementation
PLoS ONE
Theriau, C.F. and Sauv{\'e}, O.S. and Beaudoin, M.-S. and Wright, D.C. and Connor, M.K.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183897
2017

Reduced SCD1 activity alters markers of fatty acid reesterification, glyceroneogenesis, and lipolysis in murine white adipose tissue and 3T3-L1 adipocytes
American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology
Dragos, S.M. and Bergeron, K.F. and Desmarais, F. and Suitor, K. and Wright, D.C. and Mounier, C. and Mutch, D.M.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00097.2017
2017

CL 316, 243 mediated reductions in blood glucose are enhanced in RIP140-/- mice independent of alterations in lipolysis
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Peppler, W.T. and Miotto, P.M. and Holloway, G.P. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.03.067
2017

Habitual physical activity protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in mouse adipose tissue
Adipocyte
Peppler, W.T. and Anderson, Z.G. and MacRae, L.M. and MacPherson, R.E.K. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1080/21623945.2016.1259778
2017

Beneficial effects of combined resveratrol and metformin therapy in treating diet-induced insulin resistance
Physiological Reports
Frendo-Cumbo, S. and MacPherson, R.E.K. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.14814/phy2.12877
2016

Challenging dogma: is hepatic lipid accumulation in type 2 diabetes due to mitochondrial dysfunction?
Journal of Physiology
Perry, C.G.R. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1113/JP272573
2016

Weighing the effects of exercise and intrinsic aerobic capacity: Are there beneficial effects independent of changes in weight?
Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Thyfault, J.P. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2016-0122
2016

Sarcolipin knockout mice fed a high-fat diet exhibit altered indices of adipose tissue inflammation and remodeling
Obesity
MacPherson, R.E.K. and Gamu, D. and Frendo-Cumbo, S. and Castellani, L. and Kwon, F. and Tupling, A.R. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1002/oby.21521
2016

North American ginseng influences adipocyte–macrophage crosstalk regulation of inflammatory gene expression
Journal of Ginseng Research
Garbett, J. and Wilson, S.A.F. and Ralston, J.C. and De Boer, A.A. and Lui, E.M.K. and Wright, D.C. and Mutch, D.M.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2015.07.001
2016

Reduced ATGL-mediated lipolysis attenuates ß-adrenergic-induced AMPK signaling, but not the induction of PKA-targeted genes, in adipocytes and adipose tissue
American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology
Macpherson, R.E.K. and Dragos, S.M. and Ramos, S. and Sutton, C. and Frendo-Cumbo, S. and Castellani, L. and Watt, M.J. and Perry, C.G.R. and Mutch, D.M. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00126.2016
2016

Prior exercise training blunts short-term high-fat diet-induced weight gain
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Snook, L.A. and Macpherson, R.E.K. and Monaco, C.M.F. and Frendo-Cumbo, S. and Castellani, L. and Peppler, W.T. and Anderson, Z.G. and Buzelle, S.L. and Leblanc, P.J. and Holloway, G.P. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00072.2016
2016

Voluntary wheel running attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced liver inflammation in mice
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Peppler, W.T. and Anderson, Z.G. and Sutton, C.D. and Rector, R.S. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00497.2015
2016

Hyperactive mTORC1 signaling is unaffected by metformin treatment in aged skeletal muscle
Muscle and Nerve
Dungan, C.M. and Li, Z. and Wright, D.C. and Williamson, D.L.
DOI: 10.1002/mus.24698
2016

Combined high-fat-resveratrol diet and RIP140 knockout mice reveal a novel relationship between elevated bone mitochondrial content and compromised bone microarchitecture, bone mineral mass, and bone strength in the tibia
Molecular nutrition & food research
Miotto, P.M. and Frendo-Cumbo, S. and Sacco, S.M. and Wright, D.C. and Ward, W.E. and Holloway, G.P.
DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201500870
2016

Postprandial control of fatty acid transport proteins’ subcellular location is not dependent on insulin
FEBS Letters
Snook, L.A. and Wright, D.C. and Holloway, G.P.
DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12260
2016

Statin therapy alters lipid storage in diabetic skeletal muscle
Frontiers in Endocrinology
Rebalka, I.A. and Raleigh, M.J. and Snook, L.A. and Rebalka, A.N. and MacPherson, R.E.K. and Wright, D.C. and Schertzer, J.D. and Hawke, T.J.
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2016.00095
2016

Respiratory muscle weakness in the Zucker diabetic fatty rat
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Allwood, M.A. and Foster, A.J. and Arkell, A.M. and Beaudoin, M.-S. and Snook, L.A. and Romanova, N. and Murrant, C.L. and Holloway, G.P. and Wright, D.C. and Simpson, J.A.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00447.2014
2015

Exercise-mediated IL-6 signaling occurs independent of inflammation and is amplified by training in mouse adipose tissue
Journal of Applied Physiology
Castellani, L. and Perry, C.G.R. and MacPherson, R.E.K. and Root-McCaig, J. and Huber, J.S. and Arkell, A.M. and Simpson, J.A. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00551.2015
2015

Feeding butter with elevated content of trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid to obese-prone rats impairs glucose and insulin tolerance
Lipids in Health and Disease
Hamilton, M. and Hopkins, L.E. and AlZahal, O. and MacDonald, T.L. and Cervone, D.T. and Wright, D.C. and McBride, B.W. and Dyck, D.J.
DOI: 10.1186/s12944-015-0122-2
2015

Adipose tissue mitochondrial respiration: Key insights from RYGB-induced weight loss
Obesity
MacPherson, R.E.K. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1002/oby.21234
2015

Heat shock proteins: In vivo heat treatments reveal adipose tissue depot-specific effects
Journal of Applied Physiology
Rogers, R.S. and Beaudoin, M.-S. and Wheatley, J.L. and Wright, D.C. and Geiger, P.C.
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00286.2014
2015

Dietary mannoheptulose does not significantly alter daily energy expenditure in adult Labrador retrievers
PLoS ONE
McKnight, L.L. and Root-McCaig, J. and Wright, D. and Davenport, G.M. and France, J. and Shoveller, A.K.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143324
2015

Reduced cortical BACE1 content with one bout of exercise is accompanied by declines in AMPK, Akt, and MAPK signaling in obese, glucose-intolerant mice
Journal of Applied Physiology
MacPherson, R.E.K. and Baumeister, P. and Peppler, W.T. and Wright, D.C. and Little, J.P.
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00299.2015
2015

Adipose Tissue Insulin Action and IL-6 Signaling after Exercise in Obese Mice
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Macpherson, R.E.K. and Huber, J.S. and Frendo-Cumbo, S. and Simpson, J.A. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000660
2015

Extremely rapid increase in fatty acid transport and intramyocellular lipid accumulation but markedly delayed insulin resistance after high fat feeding in rats
Diabetologia
Bonen, A. and Jain, S.S. and Snook, L.A. and Han, X.-X. and Yoshida, Y. and Buddo, K.H. and Lally, J.S. and Pask, E.D. and Paglialunga, S. and Beaudoin, M.-S. and Glatz, J.F.C. and Luiken, J.J.F.P. and Harasim, E. and Wright, D.C. and Chabowski, A. and Holloway, G.P.
DOI: 10.1007/s00125-015-3691-8
2015

The contribution of IL-6 to beta 3 adrenergic receptor mediated adipose tissue remodeling
Physiological Reports
Buzelle, S.L. and MacPherson, R.E.K. and Peppler, W.T. and Castellani, L. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.14814/phy2.12312
2015

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide directly induces glucose transport in rat skeletal muscle
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Snook, L.A. and Nelson, E.M. and Dyck, D.J. and Wright, D.C. and Holloway, G.P.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00003.2015
2015

Exercise- and resveratrol-mediated alterations in adipose tissue metabolism
Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2013-0316
2014

Novel effects of rosiglitazone on SMAD2 and SMAD3 signaling in white adipose tissue of diabetic rats
Obesity
Beaudoin, M.-S. and Snook, L.A. and Arkell, A.M. and Stefanson, A. and Wan, Z. and Simpson, J.A. and Holloway, G.P. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1002/oby.20717
2014

Aging-associated reductions in lipolytic and mitochondrial proteins in mouse adipose tissue are not rescued by metformin treatment
Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Mennes, E. and Dungan, C.M. and Frendo-Cumbo, S. and Williamson, D.L. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glt156
2014

Adiponectin is sufficient, but not required, for exercise-induced increases in the expression of skeletal muscle mitochondrial enzymes
Journal of Physiology
Ritchie, I.R.W. and Macdonald, T.L. and Wright, D.C. and Dyck, D.J.
DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.273680
2014

Lack of REDD1 reduces whole body glucose and insulin tolerance, and impairs skeletal muscle insulin signaling
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Dungan, C.M. and Wright, D.C. and Williamson, D.L.
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.10.032
2014

Feeding butter with elevated content of trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid to lean rats does not impair glucose tolerance or muscle insulin response
Lipids in Health and Disease
Stefanson, A. and Hopkins, L.E. and Alzahal, O. and Ritchie, I.R. and Macdonald, T. and Wright, D.C. and McBride, B.W. and Dyck, D.J.
DOI: 10.1186/1476-511X-13-101
2014

The day/night proteome in the murine heart
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Podobed, P. and Glen Pyle, W. and Ackloo, S. and Alibhai, F.J. and Tsimakouridze, E.V. and Ratcliffe, W.F. and Mackay, A. and Simpson, J. and Wright, D.C. and Kirby, G.M. and Young, M.E. and Martino, T.A.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00011.2014
2014

Evidence for the role of AMPK in regulating PGC-1 alpha expression and mitochondrial proteins in mouse epididymal adipose tissue
Obesity
Wan, Z. and Root-Mccaig, J. and Castellani, L. and Kemp, B.E. and Steinberg, G.R. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1002/oby.20605
2014

Exercise training protects against an acute inflammatory insult in mouse epididymal adipose tissue
Journal of Applied Physiology
Castellani, L. and Root-Mccaig, J. and Frendo-Cumbo, S. and Beaudoin, M.-S. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00074.2014
2014

Impairments in mitochondrial palmitoyl-CoA respiratory kinetics that precede development of diabetic cardiomyopathy are prevented by resveratrol in ZDF rats
Journal of Physiology
Beaudoin, M.-S. and Perry, C.G.R. and Arkell, A.M. and Chabowski, A. and Simpson, J.A. and Wright, D.C. and Holloway, G.P.
DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.270538
2014

Evidence for fatty acids mediating CL 316,243-induced reductions in blood glucose in mice
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
MacPherson, R.E.K. and Castellani, L. and Beaudoin, M.-S. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00287.2014
2014

Short-term disruption of diurnal rhythms after murine myocardial infarction adversely affects long-term myocardial structure and function
Circulation Research
Alibhai, F.J. and Tsimakouridze, E.V. and Chinnappareddy, N. and Wright, D.C. and Billia, F. and O{'}Sullivan, M.L. and Pyle, W.G. and Sole, M.J. and Martino, T.A.
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.302995
2014

Adiponectin is not required for exercise training-induced improvements in glucose and insulin tolerance in mice
Physiological Reports
Ritchie, I.R.W. and Wright, D.C. and Dyck, D.J.
DOI: 10.14814/phy2.12146
2014

IL-6 and epinephrine have divergent fiber type effects on intramuscular lipolysis
Journal of Applied Physiology
MacDonald, T.L. and Wan, Z. and Frendo-Cumbo, S. and Dyck, D.J. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00558.2013
2013

Changes in mechanisms proposed to mediate fat loss following an acute bout of high-intensity interval and endurance exercise
Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Williams, C.B. and Zelt, J.G.E. and Castellani, L.N. and Little, J.P. and Jung, M.E. and Wright, D.C. and Tschakovsky, M.E. and Gurd, B.J.
DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2013-0101
2013

FAT/CD36 regulates PEPCK expression in adipose tissue
American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology
Wan, Z. and Matravadia, S. and Holloway, G.P. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00372.2012
2013

Correction: IL-6 indirectly modulates the induction of glyceroneogenic enzymes in adipose tissue during exercise (PLoS ONE)
PLoS ONE
Wan, Z. and Ritchie, I. and Beaudoin, M.-S. and Castellani, L. and Chan, C.B. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1371/annotation/3029d433-8e4e-41ca-a2da-6561aa0701bd
2013

Submaximal ADP-stimulated respiration is impaired in ZDF rats and recovered by resveratrol
Journal of Physiology
Smith, B.K. and Perry, C.G.R. and Herbst, E.A.F. and Ritchie, I.R. and Beaudoin, M.-S. and Smith, J.C. and Neufer, P.D. and Wright, D.C. and Holloway, G.P.
DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.259226
2013

Enhanced glucose homeostasis in BHE/cdb rats with mutated ATP synthase
Mitochondrion
Harasym, A.C. and Thrush, A.B. and Harper, M.-E. and Wright, D.C. and Chan, C.B.
DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2013.04.006
2013

IL-6 is not essential for exercise-induced increases in glucose uptake
Journal of Applied Physiology
O{'}Neill, H.M. and Palanivel, R. and Wright, D.C. and Macdonald, T. and Lally, J.S. and Schertzer, J.D. and Steinberg, G.R.
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00946.2012
2013

Resveratrol supplementation improves white adipose tissue function in a depot-specific manner in Zucker diabetic fatty rats
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Beaudoin, M.-S. and Snook, L.A. and Arkell, A.M. and Simpson, J.A. and Holloway, G.P. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00200.2013
2013

Dietary supplementation with vitamin E and C attenuates dexamethasone-induced glucose intolerance in rats
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Williams, D.B. and Wan, Z. and Frier, B.C. and Bell, R.C. and Field, C.J. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00304.2011
2012

Epinephrine induces PDK4 mRNA expression in adipose tissue from obese, insulin resistant rats
Obesity
Wan, Z. and Frier, B.C. and Williams, D.B. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1038/oby.2011.252
2012

Epinephrine and AICAR-induced PGC-1a mRNA expression is intact in skeletal muscle from rats fed a high-fat diet
American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology
Frier, B.C. and Wan, Z. and Williams, D.B. and Stefanson, A.L. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00410.2011
2012

IL-6 Is Not Necessary for the Regulation of Adipose Tissue Mitochondrial Content
PLoS ONE
Wan, Z. and Perry, C.G.R. and Macdonald, T. and Chan, C.B. and Holloway, G.P. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051233
2012

Identification of a novel malonyl-CoA IC50for CPT-I: Implications for predicting in vivo fatty acid oxidation rates
Biochemical Journal
Smith, B.K. and Perry, C.G.R. and Koves, T.R. and Wright, D.C. and Smith, J.C. and Neufer, P.D. and Muoio, D.M. and Holloway, G.P.
DOI: 10.1042/BJ20121110
2012

Mitochondrial creatine kinase activity and phosphate shuttling are acutely regulated by exercise in human skeletal muscle
Journal of Physiology
Perry, C.G.R. and Kane, D.A. and Herbst, E.A.F. and Mukai, K. and Lark, D.S. and Wright, D.C. and Heigenhauser, G.J.F. and Neufer, P.D. and Spriet, L.L. and Holloway, G.P.
DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.234682
2012

Exercise restores insulin, but not adiponectin, response in skeletal muscle of high-fat fed rodents
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Gulli, R.A. and Tishinsky, J.M. and MacDonald, T. and Robinson, L.E. and Wright, D.C. and Dyck, D.J.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00176.2012
2012

IL-6 indirectly modulates the induction of glyceroneogenic enzymes in adipose tissue during exercise
PLoS ONE
Wan, Z. and Ritchie, I. and Beaudoin, M.-S. and Castellani, L. and Chan, C.B. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041719
2012

Skeletal muscle and beyond: The role of exercise as a mediator of systemic mitochondrial biogenesis
Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Little, J.P. and Safdar, A. and Benton, C.R. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1139/h11-076
2011

The effects of glucocorticoids on adipose tissue lipid metabolism
Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental
Peckett, A.J. and Wright, D.C. and Riddell, M.C.
DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2011.06.012
2011

Reductions in RIP140 are not required for exercise- and AICAR-mediated increases in skeletal muscle mitochondrial content
Journal of Applied Physiology
Frier, B.C. and Hancock, C.R. and Little, J.P. and Fillmore, N. and Bliss, T.A. and Thomson, D.M. and Wan, Z. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00279.2011
2011

Interactions between the consumption of a high-fat diet and fasting in the regulation of fatty acid oxidation enzyme gene expression: An evaluation of potential mechanisms
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Frier, B.C. and Jacobs, R.L. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00367.2010
2011

Increased hypolipidemic benefits of cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid in combination with trans-11 vaccenic acid in a rodent model of the metabolic syndrome, the JCR:LA-cp rat
Nutrition and Metabolism
Jacome-Sosa, M.M. and Lu, J. and Wang, Y. and Ruth, M.R. and Wright, D.C. and Reaney, M.J. and Shen, J. and Field, C.J. and Vine, D.F. and Proctor, S.D.
DOI: 10.1186/1743-7075-7-60
2010

Epinephrine-mediated regulation of PDK4 mRNA in rat adipose tissue
American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology
Wan, Z. and Thrush, A.B. and Legare, M. and Frier, B.C. and Sutherland, L.N. and Williams, D.B. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00188.2010
2010

The effects of apelin treatment on skeletal muscle mitochondrial content
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Frier, B.C. and Williams, D.B. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00422.2009
2009

Adiponectin resistance precedes the accumulation of skeletal muscle lipids and insulin resistance in high-fat-fed rats
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Mullen, K.L. and Pritchard, J. and Ritchie, I. and Snook, L.A. and Chabowski, A. and Bonen, A. and Wright, D. and Dyck, D.J.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.90774.2008
2009

Exercise and adrenaline increase PGC-1a mRNA expression in rat adipose tissue
Journal of Physiology
Sutherland, L.N. and Bomhof, M.R. and Capozzi, L.C. and Basaraba, S.A.U. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.165464
2009

Muscle-specific differences in the response of mitochondrial proteins to ß-GPA feeding: An evaluation of potential mechanisms
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Williams, D.B. and Sutherland, L.N. and Bomhof, M.R. and Basaraba, S.A.U. and Thrush, A.B. and Dyck, D.J. and Field, C.J. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.90913.2008
2009

Trans-11 vaccenic acid reduces hepatic lipogenesis and chylomicron secretion in JCR: LA-cp rats
Journal of Nutrition
Wang, Y. and Jacome-Sosa, M.M. and Ruth, M.R. and Goruk, S.D. and Reaney, M.J. and Glimm, D.R. and Wright, D.C. and Vine, D.F. and Field, C.J. and Proctor, S.D.
DOI: 10.3945/jn.109.109488
2009

PGC-1a-mediated regulation of gene expression and metabolism: Implications for nutrition and exercise prescriptions
Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Benton, C.R. and Wright, D.C. and Bonen, A.
DOI: 10.1139/H08-074
2008

High-fat diets cause insulin resistance despite an increase in muscle mitochondria
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Hancock, C.R. and Han, D.-H. and Chen, M. and Terada, S. and Yasuda, T. and Wright, D.C. and Holloszy, J.O.
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0802057105
2008

Time course of high-fat diet-induced reductions in adipose tissue mitochondrial proteins: Potential mechanisms and the relationship to glucose intolerance
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Sutherland, L.N. and Capozzi, L.C. and Turchinsky, N.J. and Bell, R.C. and Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.90408.2008
2008

Palmitate acutely induces insulin resistance in isolated muscle from obese but not lean humans
American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Thrush, A.B. and Heigenhauser, G.J. and Mullen, K.L. and Wright, D.C. and Dyck, D.J.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00909.2007
2008

Antioxidant supplemention in the treatment of skeletal muscle insulin resistance: Potential mechanisms and clinical relevance
Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Wright, D. and Sutherland, L.
DOI: 10.1139/H07-155
2008

Exercise-induced mitochondrial biogenesis begins before the increase in muscle PGC-1a expression
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Wright, D.C. and Han, D.-H. and Garcia-Roves, P.M. and Geiger, P.C. and Jones, T.E. and Holloszy, J.O.
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M606116200
2007

Calcium induces increases in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ¿ coactivator-1a and mitochondrial biogenesis by a pathway leading to p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Wright, D.C. and Geiger, P.C. and Han, D.-H. and Jones, T.E. and Holloszy, J.O.
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M611252200
2007

Mechanisms of calcium-induced mitochondrial biogenesis and GLUT4 synthesis
Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Wright, D.C.
DOI: 10.1139/H07-062
2007

IL-6 increases muscle insulin sensitivity only at superphysiological levels
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Geiger, P.C. and Hancock, C. and Wright, D.C. and Han, D.-H. and Holloszy, J.O.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00701.2006
2007

How muscle insulin sensitivity is regulated: Testing of a hypothesis
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Geiger, P.C. and Dong, H.H. and Wright, D.C. and Holloszy, J.O.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00273.2006
2006

Are tyrosine kinases involved in mediating contraction-stimulated muscle glucose transport?
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Wright, D.C. and Geiger, P.C. and Han, D.-H. and Holloszy, J.O.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00280.2005
2006

Lipid metabolism response to a single, prolonged bout of endurance exercise in healthy young men
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Magkos, F. and Wright, D.C. and Patterson, B.W. and Mohammed, B.S. and Mittendorfer, B.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00259.2005
2006

Activation of p38 MAP kinase enhances sensitivity of muscle glucose transport to insulin
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Geiger, P.C. and Wright, D.C. and Han, D.-H. and Holloszy, J.O.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00477.2004
2005

Contraction- and hypoxia-stimulated glucose transport is mediated by a Ca2+-dependent mechanism in slow-twitch rat soleus muscle
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Wright, D.C. and Geiger, P.C. and Holloszy, J.O. and Han, D.-H.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00561.2004
2005

A role for calcium/calmodulin kinase in insulin stimulated glucose transport
Life Sciences
Wright, D.C. and Fick, C.A. and Olesen, J.B. and Lim, K. and Barnes, B.R. and Craig, B.W.
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2003.06.041
2004

Phorbol esters affect skeletal muscle glucose transport in a fiber type-specific manner
American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Wright, D.C. and Geiger, P.C. and Rheinheimer, M.J. and Han, D.H. and Holloszy, J.O.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00082.2004
2004

Ca2+ and AMPK Both Mediate Stimulation of Glucose Transport by Muscle Contractions
Diabetes
Wright, D.C. and Hucker, K.A. and Holloszy, J.O. and Han, D.H.
DOI: 10.2337/diabetes.53.2.330
2004

Evidence for the involvement of a phospholipase C - protein kinase C signaling pathway in insulin stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle
Life Sciences
Wright, D.C. and Fick, C.A. and Olesen, J.B. and Craig, B.W.
DOI: 10.1016/S0024-3205(03)00256-X
2003

Preliminary report: The effects of phospholipase C inhibition on insulin-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle
Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental
Wright, D.C. and Craig, B.W. and Fick, C.A. and Lim, K.I.
DOI: 10.1053/meta.2002.30500
2002

Research

CIHR Project Grant: Identifying a Novel Role for GDF15 during Exercise
Exercise has profound effects on virtually every organ and tissue and profoundly influences how the body utilizes carbohydrate and fats. The wide-ranging effects of exercise are mediated, at least in part, by signaling factors secreted from different tissues, such as muscle, liver and fat tissue. A recently identified signaling factor that increases with exercise is GDF15. This molecule signals to the brain and regulates food intake. In addition, we have found that GDF15 also increases the utilization of fat in the liver and the production of molecules called ketone bodies that can be taken up and used as a fuel source by other tissues like the heart and muscle. The purpose of the current project is to determine how GDF15 increases the production of ketone bodies, and then investigate if GDF15 regulates the effects of exercise on these processes. It is our hope that identifying how GDF15 controls sugar and fat metabolism and the role that it plays in exercise, will lend insight into potential new avenues to treat conditions of altered sugar metabolism such as those seen in type 2 diabetes.

CIHR Project Grant: Targeting Exercise Activated Pathways to Offset the Metabolic Side Effects of Anti-Psychotic Drugs
Antipsychotic drugs are used to treat a number of conditions including schizophrenia, anxiety and bipolar disorders and their use has increased dramatically over the past decade. Unfortunately, these drugs have harmful metabolic side effects such as weight gain and rapid increases in blood sugar with each dose of drug. Together these effects increase the risk for developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In recent work, we have shown that a single session of exercise prior to treatment with antipsychotics completely protected against the acute increase in blood sugar. Although exercise adherence is poor in individuals taking anti-psychotic drugs we have been using exercise as a model to identify pathways which could be targeted to reduce the metabolic side effects of these drugs. Based on preliminary data from our laboratory we have shown that the activation of an energy-sensing enzyme called AMPK confers the same protection against anti-psychotic metabolic side effects as exercise. The purpose of this project is to examine the effects of AMPK in protecting against the acute and long-term metabolic side effects of anti-psychotic drugs and to determine if AMPK mediates the beneficial effects of exercise. The data generated from these studies will provide insight into new approaches that could be used to lessen the metabolic consequences of anti-psychotic drugs and could shed insight into the mechanisms mediating the protective effects of exercise.

NSERC Discovery Grant: Temperature Sensing and the Regulation of Fuel Metabolism
The long-term objective of my NSERC program is to examine how environmental, nutritional and exercise stressors modulate adipose tissue and liver metabolism, the underlying mechanisms therein, and how this influences systemic carbohydrate and fat homeostasis. To address these basic, fundamental questions, we use rodent models coupled with cell/tissue culture approaches and examine endpoints ranging from whole body energy expenditure to the regulation of gene expression. A new direction we have started to explore is the impact of cold stress on adipose tissue and systemic metabolism. Building upon recent discoveries, and further guided by exciting
preliminary data, over the next 5 years we will examine how the sensation of cold triggers metabolic adaptations, specifically examining the role of the cold sensing cation channel TRPM8 (Transient Receptor Potential cation channel subfamily Melastatin member 8) in these processes. In the first two aims we will decipher the mechanisms through which activation of TRPM8 acutely increases thermogenesis (Aim 1) and how the repeated activation of TRPM8 induces the expression of mitochondrial/thermogenic genes and proteins (Aim 2). In Aim 3 we will investigate the necessity of TRPM8 in mediating the metabolic response to cold and in Aim 4 will explore interactions between TRPM8 activation and exercise in the regulation of adipose tissue and systemic metabolism. The experiments outlined in this proposal will increase our basic, fundamental understanding of adipose tissue biology and how these changes impact systemic fuel metabolism. A diverse group of HQP will receive a rich training experience which will prepare them for careers, or further training, in the natural sciences.

Grants

CIHR Project Grant (2021-26): Identifying a Novel Role for GDF15 during Exercise

CIHR Project Grant (2018-24): Targeting Exercise Activated Pathways to Offset the Metabolic Side Effects of Anti-Psychotic Drugs

NSERC Discovery Grant (2017-22): Role of Adipose Tissue and IL-6 in Liver Metabolism

Honours & Awards

Tier II Canada Research Chair in Lipids, Metabolism and Health (2010-2020)

Young Investigator Award Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology (2012)

CIHR New Investigator Award (2008-10)

Research Group Members

Michael Akcan, trainee
Meagan Arbeau
Brad Baranowski, Postdoctoral Fellow
AnnaLaura Bellucci, doctoral student
Katelyn Eisner, MSc Student
Clara Gale, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Stewart Jeromson, Postdoctoral Fellow
Jonathan Kim, Volunteer
Tony Na, undergraduate research assistant
Ian Thompson, undergraduate assistant
Serena Trang, Graduate Student