Paracrine fibroblast growth factors as metabolic messengers between adipose tissue cells (P09)

• Subject Area: Cell Biology ; Anatomy and Physiology ; Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolism
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 450149205

The presence of thermogenic uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is thought to be a unique feature of fully differentiated brown adipocytes. Several paracrine fibroblast growth factors (FGF) induce the expression of UCP1 in undifferentiated preadipocytes. In this project, we aim to determine the specific FGF dominantly constituting this signaling axis in vivo, identify the origin of this factor and thus decipher all components of this novel intra-organ adipose tissue signaling network. We will further employ UCP1-expressing preadipocytes as a novel model in which to study the potency of UCP1 interacting proteins.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 333: Brown and Beige Fat – Organ Crosstalk, Signaling and Energetics (BATenergy)
• Applicant Institution: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
• Project Head: Privatdozent Dr. Tobias Fromme