Novel measures of DNL to assess its role in human insulin resistance_1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Novel non-invasive assessment of de novo lipogenesis and its mechanistic role in human insulin resistance
IRAS ID
296686
Contact name
Alison Sleigh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 9 months, 12 days
Research summary
Insulin resistance is closely associated with an accumulation of fat stored in the liver and skeletal muscle. There is growing evidence to suggest a process called de novo lipogenesis (DNL), where fat is generated from excess sugars, is involved in the development of insulin resistance. There are no non-invasive ways to measure the storage of fat from DNL, and taking a biopsy sample from the liver carries substantial risk. Therefore investigations into the storage of DNL-generated fats has been significantly limited.
Aim
To develop a non-invasive method to measure the storage of DNL-generated fats, and to use this to safely examine the relevance of this fat storage in human insulin resistance.
Approach
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is a completely non-invasive technique that uses an MRI scanner to generate biochemical information from inside the body. This can tell us about the composition of the tissue and, for example, can measure how much fat it contains. However, normal methods can not distinguish DNL-generated fat from other fat, and so here we plan to design and validate a new special MRS method that will be able to do this. Using both insulin resistant patients and healthy individuals, we shall utilise this new method to investigate the role of DNL-stored fats in the mechanisms of insulin resistance.
Importance
Non-invasive methods to measure the storage of DNL-generated fats will safely enable the investigation of the relevance of stored DNL-fats in human insulin resistance. Understanding such mechanisms is key to preventing a number of metabolic diseases including diabetes, heart and fatty liver disease.REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/EE/0282
Date of REC Opinion
4 Jan 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion