Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Canadian society is experiencing an epidemic of obesity, and heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death and morbidity. Obesity, brought on by diets rich in calorie dense foods and inactivity, can cause insulin resistance and atherosclerosis (plaque build up in the arteries), which overtime leads to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), respectively. But all is not lost! At the cellular front line in the fight against these disorders are macrophages. These specialized cells play a critical role in our immune system by sensing foreign invaders and mounting an attack. Recent evidence shows that in obesity, the macrophages that are meant to protect us are reprogrammed and contribute to a state of 'chronic inflammation,' which then leads to insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Exciting new findings from our lab have shown that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in macrophages is a master regulator of metabolism that can turn on fat burning and lower cholesterol levels in these cells. We show that AMPK can control how much cholesterol the cell can make and how much cholesterol is secreted. This slows the progression of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Our goal is to shed light on the connection between inflammation and lipid metabolism and identify new ways to prevent disorders such as cardiovascular disease.