E026 – Endocrine Physiopathology

Objectives

The Endocrine Pathophysiology (E26) research group, directed by PI Luisa María Seoane Camino, focuses its studies on basic aspects of energy balance regulation through the interaction of peripheral mechanisms with the central nervous system. The general objective of the group is the search for mechanisms in peripheral tissues to adapt metabolism to the energy requirements demanded in each period of life.
As specific objectives, the group is specialised in:
• The search for the mechanisms that are altered in pathological situations such as obesity and other associated pathologies such as diabetes and hepatic steatosis.
• The identification of new therapeutic targets in obesity and associated pathologies (diabetes and hepatic steatosis). Carrying out preclinical studies in experimental animals, in vitro and ex vivo systems.
• The search for biomarkers of obesity and associated pathologies, especially in children.

Lines of research

LINE 1. Study of the role of the brain-gastrointestinal tract-adipose tissue axis in the control of obesity and associated pathologies:
1a. Study of the role of the gastrointestinal tract in regulating the mechanisms involved in maintaining energy balance.
1b. Role of the Uroguanylin-GUCY2C System in obesity.
LINE 2. Involvement of D2 dopaminergic receptors in the regulation of body weight.
Regulation of the hypothalamic dopaminergic system by different peripheral signals involved in the control of energy homeostasis
LINE 3. Breastfeeding as a protective factor against the development of obesity in adulthood.
3a. Development of an animal model of prolonged lactation, metabolic characterization
3b. Study of the molecular mechanisms involved in the protective effect of breastfeeding against obesity.
3c. Role of intestinal microflora in the protective effect of breastfeeding against obesity.
3d. Study in children monitored in the Pediatric service of the University Hospital Complex of Santiago of the signals identified in animal models involved in the beneficial effect of breastfeeding.

• Folgueira, C., D. Beiroa, B. Porteiro, M. Duquenne, E. Puighermanal, M. F. Fondevila, S. Barja-Fernandez, R. Gallego, R. Hernandez-Bautista, C. Castelao, A. Senra, P. Seoane, N. Gomez, P. Aguiar, D. Guallar, M. Fidalgo, A. Romero-Pico, R. Adan, C. Blouet, J. L. Labandeira-Garcia, F. Jeanrenaud, I. Kallo, Z. Liposits, J. Salvador, V. Prevot, C. Dieguez, M. Lopez, E. Valjent, G. Fruhbeck, L. M. Seoane, and R. Nogueiras. Hypothalamic Dopamine Signaling Regulates Brown Fat Thermogenesis. Nat Metab. 2019 Aug;1(8):811-829. doi: 10.1038/s42255-019-0099-7 PMID: 31579887
• Barja-Fernandez, S., C. Folgueira, C. Castelao, V. Pena-Leon, P. Gonzalez-Saenz, R. Vazquez-Cobela, C. M. Aguilera, M. Gil-Campos, G. Bueno, A. Gil, L. A. Moreno, M. Ruiz-Pinon, M. Garcia-Palacios, F. F. Casanueva, C. Dieguez, R. Nogueiras, R. Leis, and L. M. Seoane. Angptl-4 Is Associated with Obesity and Lipid Profile in Children and Adolescents. Nutrients 11, (2019). doi: 10.3390/nu11061340
• Pena-Leon V, Perez-Lois R, Seoane LM. mTOR Pathway is Involved in Energy Homeostasis Regulation as a Part of the Gut-Brain Axis. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Aug 10;21(16):5715. doi: 10.3390/ijms21165715. PMID: 32784967.
• Manieri E, Herrera-Melle L, Mora A, Tomás-Loba A, Leiva-Vega L, Fernández DI, Rodríguez E, Morán L, Hernández-Cosido L, Torres JL, Seoane LM, Cubero FJ, Marcos M, Sabio G. Adiponectin accounts for gender differences in hepatocellular carcinoma incidence. J Exp Med. 2019 May 6;216(5):1108-1119. doi: 10.1084/jem.20181288. Epub 2019 Apr 3. PMID: 30944152; PMCID: PMC6504215.
• Folgueira C, Torres-Leal FL, Beiroa D, Pena-León V, Da Silva Lima N, Milbank E, Senra A, Al-Massadi O, López M, Diéguez C, Seoane LM, Nogueiras R. Oral pharmacological activation of hypothalamic guanylate cyclase 2C receptor stimulates brown fat thermogenesis to reduce body weight. Neuroendocrinology. 2020 Jan 17. doi: 10.1159/000505972. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 31945763.
• Quiñones M, Martínez-Grobas E, Fernø J, Pérez-Lois R, Seoane LM, Al Massadi O. Hypothalamic Actions of SIRT1 and SIRT6 on Energy Balance. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 31;22(3):1430. doi: 10.3390/ijms22031430.
• Folgueira C, Beiroa D, González-Rellán MJ, Porteiro B, Milbank E, Castelao C, García-Palacios M, Casanueva FF, López M, Diéguez C, Seoane LM, Nogueiras R. Uroguanylin Improves Leptin Responsiveness in Diet-Induced Obese Mice. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 30;11(4):752. doi: 10.3390/nu11040752. PMID: 30935076;
• Fernández-Pombo A, Rodríguez-Carnero G, Castro AI, Cantón-Blanco A, Seoane LM, Casanueva FF, Crujeiras AB, Martínez-Olmos MA. Relevance of nutritional assessment and treatment to counteract cardiac cachexia and sarcopenia in chronic heart failure. Clin Nutr. 2021 Sep;40(9):5141-5155. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.07.027. Epub 2021 Jul 31.