Hypothalamic Sirt1 and FoxO1 in energy balance regulation

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25460310
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Environmental physiology(including physical medicine and nutritional physiology)
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Sasaki Tsutomu 群馬大学, 生体調節研究所, 准教授 (50466687)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: Sirt1 / Foxo1 / インスリンシグナル / 視床下部 / エネルギー代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The hypothalamus is the center for body weight regulation, and controls regulating appetite and energy expenditure by integrating energy information delivered from the peripheral tissues. The hypothalamus can maintain the body weight within a certain range while young, but the hypothalamic system gradually deteriorates with aging, leading to weight gain during middle age. The disruption of the central energy homeostasis leads to metabolic syndrome and diseases, ultimately shortening healthy lifespan.
By using the genetic model of central insulin resistance, we showed that SIRT1 can ameliorate the obesity caused by insulin-resistant FoxO1 in the hypothalamus. In principle it proved the concept that SIRT1 improves the function of the central energy homeostasis center by improving insulin sensitivity.

Free Research Field

生理学