Brenda Nakagaki, Ph.D.

Research

In the Mills lab, I will investigate how the metabolic dysfunction that accompanies diet-induced obesity triggers inflammation in different cells and tissues. Obesity is a leading risk factor for metabolic disorders such as diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. At the same time, diet-induced obesity has been linked with the activation of inflammatory cells and processes, particularly in liver and adipose (fat) tissue. Growing evidence points toward metabolites like succinate as being key intermediaries connecting metabolic dysregulation and inflammation: Succinate is elevated in individuals with diabetes and obesity and is also associated with inflammation-induced tissue damage. Using a suite of cutting-edge biochemical and molecular genetic methods coupled with techniques for analyzing metabolic profiles, I will examine mice in which succinate signaling has been disrupted and determine how this inhibition alters the abundance and activation of inflammatory cells in the liver and the breakdown of fat in adipose tissue. My findings will enhance our understanding of the links between metabolic dysfunction and inflammation and could lead to the development of novel treatments for metabolic disease.