Cardiovascular & Lipid Disorders

David Askew

Min Liu , PhD

Pathology & Lab Med-North

Associate Professor

  • GRI-A 261
  • 2120 E. Galbraith Rd
  • Reading OH 45215
  • (513)558-4957
  • min.liu@uc.edu

Research Summary

Dr. Liu's laboratory is currently studying the role of hypothalamic apolipoprotein AIV (apo AIV) in the development of obesity and how it can be modulated for preventive and therapeutic purposes. Apo AIV is a circulating signal released from intestinal cells in response to lipid feeding, and it contributes to the anorectic effect of a lipid meal. We have demonstrated that apo AIV is also synthesized in the hypothalamus, and that hypothalamic apo AIV gene and protein expression is regulated physiologically.

Current work focuses on:

  1. To determine hypothalamic apo AIV gene expression and protein levels and the responsivity of hypothalamic apo AIV to dietary lipids in several strains of obese and lean animals. We will also determine the response to chronic high-fat feeding in apo AIV knockout mice.
  2. To characterize the transport of apo AIV from blood into the central nervous system and to assess the areas in the brain that are activated by apo AIV administered either centrally or intravenously.
  3. To determine the interaction of apo AIV with other regulatory peptides within the hypothalamus. This work is innovative because it addresses important unanswered questions. The new knowledge may lead to novel targets for preventive and therapeutic interventions that will be particularly important to the growing numbers of obese persons in this country

Recent Publications

Shen L, Tso P, Woods, S.C., Clegg, BJ, Barber KL, Carey K, Liu M. Brain Apolipoprotein E: An Important Regulator of Food Intake in Rats. Diabetes., 2008; 57(8):2092-8.

Shen L, Pearson KJ, Xiong Y, Lo CM, Tso P, Woods SC, Davidson WS, Liu M. Characterization of apolipoprotein A-IV in brain areas involved in energy homeostasis. Physiol Behav. 2008; 95(1-2):161-7.

Jandacek, R., Anderson N., Liu, M., Zheng, S., Yang, Q., Tso, P. Effects of yo-yo diet, caloric restriction, and olestra on tissue distribution of hexachlorobenzene. American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver physiology. 288:G292-9, 2005

Pearson, K., Liu, M., Shen L., Woods, S.C., Tso P., Davidson, W. S. Bacterial expression and characterization of rat and mouse apolipoprotein E. Protein Expression and Purification. 41:447-53, 2005

Shen, L., Ma, L.Y., Jandacek R. and Sakai, R. Liu, M. Diurnal changes in intestinal apolipoprotein A-IV and its relation to food intake and corticosterone in rats. American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver physiology. 288:G48-53; 2005

 

"));