Obesity and type 2 diabetes have become serious health concerns in western societies. In the United States alone, approximately 25% of the population are obese, more than 60% are overweight. The American Diabetes Association estimates that currently there are about 15 million people in the U.S. who are type 2-diabetic. Our research interest is focused on the molecular signaling events underlying the actions of leptin and insulin, two very important hormones that regulate our bodyweight, food-intake as well as glucose and fat metabolism. Our work involves a wide range of disciplines, including biochemistry, molecular biology and pharmacology. We are also making different transgenic and gene-targeting models to mimic the situations in human obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Cong L, Chen K, Li J, Gao P, Li Q, Mi S, Wu X, Zhao AZ. Regulation of adiponectin and leptin secretion and expression by insulin through a PI3K-PDE3B dependent mechanism in rat primary adipocytes. Biochem J. 2007 May 1;403(3):519-25.
Cong L, Gasser J, Zhao J, Yang B, Li F, Zhao AZ. Human adiponectin inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in human endometrial carcinoma cells, HEC-1-A and RL95 2. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2007 Sep;14(3):713-20.
Burguera B, Brunetto A, Garcia-Ocana A, Teijeiro R, Esplen J, Thomas T, Couce ME, Zhao A. Leptin increases proliferation of human steosarcoma cells through activation of PI(3)-K and MAPK pathways. Med Sci Monit. 2006 Nov;12(11):BR341-9.
Chen K, Li F, Li J, Cai H, Strom S, Bisello A, Kelley DE, Friedman-Einat M, Skibinski GA, McCrory MA, Szalai AJ, Zhao AZ. Induction of leptin resistance through direct interaction of C-reactive protein with leptin. Nat Med. 2006 Apr;12(4):425-32. Epub 2006 Apr 2.
Li F, Chung H, Reddy SV, Lu G, Kurihara N, Zhao AZ, Roodman GD. Annexin II stimulates RANKL expression through MAPK. J Bone Miner Res. 2005 Jul;20(7):1161-7. Epub 2005 Feb 14.
Rao P, Roccisana J, Takane KK, Bottino R, Zhao A, Trucco M, Garcia-Ocana A. Gene transfer of constitutively active Akt markedly improves human islet transplant outcomes in diabetic severe combined immunodeficient mice. Diabetes. 2005 Jun;54(6):1664-75.
Zhao AZ. Control of food intake through regulation of cAMP. Curr Top Dev Biol. 2005;67:207-24.
Huan JN, Li J, Han Y, Chen K, Wu N, Zhao AZ. Adipocyte-selective reduction of the leptin receptors induced by antisense RNA leads to increased adiposity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. J Biol Chem. 2003 Nov 14;278(46):45638-50. Epub 2003 Aug 18.
Zhao AZ, Huan JN, Gupta S, Pal R, Sahu A. A phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase phosphodiesterase 3B-cyclic AMP pathway in hypothalamic action of leptin on feeding. Nat Neurosci. 2002 Aug;5(8):727-8.
Zhao AZ, Shinohara MM, Huang D, Shimizu M, Eldar-Finkelman H, Krebs EG, Beavo JA, Bornfeldt KE. Leptin induces insulin-like signaling that antagonizes cAMP elevation by glucagon in hepatocytes. J Biol Chem. 2000 Apr 14;275(15):11348-54. PMID: 10753948
