The goal of our laboratory is to study the genetic mechanism in mutant mice that modulate healthy aging by pre-programing and maintaining healthy metabolism through enhanced insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis as we age.
We reported that long-living mice characterized by either growth hormone (GH) deficiency (Ames dwarf mice) or GH resistance (GHRKO or “Laron dwarf” mice) maintain healthy function of white adipose tissue regardless of increased obesity. Our newest study showed that lack of activation of the GH signaling pathway in visceral fat tissue alters the function of adipocytes in a way that acts positively on whole-body insulin sensitivity and has anti-inflammatory potentials.
Following our findings we try to determine the mechanism that could help in developing therapeutic interventions to improve humans’ health and promote healthy aging.