Poster #023
Gut Fat-Crosstalk in Metabolic Regulation
Mentor: Eryun Zhang, Staff Scientist
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are immune-regulating proteins secreted by Paneth cells, located near LGR5+ intestinal stem cells at the base of the intestinal crypt. AMPs help maintain gut homeostasis by targeting pathogens while preserving beneficial microbes. White adipose tissue (WAT) browning, the conversion of white fat to metabolically active beige fat, has been linked to improved energy metabolism and metabolic health. Our previous research found that intestinal mTOR signaling influences WAT browning via modulation of gut microbiota. However, the mTOR modulation of the gut microbiota remains unknown. We hypothesize that mTOR mediates epithelial differentiation to regulate the expression of key AMPs, thereby modulating the gut microbiota. Our hypothesis will be tested by comparing gut epithelial differentiation between mTOR-IKO mice and mTORfl/fl mice through isolation of the intestinal crypt and analysis of Paneth cells and intestinal stem cells. Our findings may assist in the development of alternative treatments for metabolic diseases.