Role of Purinergic Signalling in Adipose Differentiation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Role of purinergic signalling in adipose differentiation, adipokine secretion and inflammation
IRAS ID
157093
Contact name
Samuel Fountain
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Adipocytes (fat cells) are central to human wellbeing as they regulate body metabolism. In obesity, adipose tissue increases in size and new fat cells can be made from special precursor cells (pre-adipocytes) through a process called differentiation. In diabetes, adipose tissue can become inflamed due to infiltration of white blood cells (macrophage). Macrophage are recruited to adipose tissue by following chemical signals released from fat (adipokines). This project will use discarded surgical tissue samples to isolate and culture preadipocytes and study what signalling regulates their differentiation to mature adipocytes, and how the release of adipokines are controlled. Understanding these pathways may yield new targets for therapy.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/2056
Date of REC Opinion
17 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion