Publications by authors named "C M Kusminski"

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key drivers of local fibrosis. Adiponectin, conventionally thought of as an adipokine, is also expressed in quiescent HSCs. However, the impact of its local expression on the progression of liver fibrosis remains unclear.

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Obesity is a chronic disease that contributes to the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and cardiovascular risk. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor (GIPR) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor (GLP-1R) co-agonism provide an improved therapeutic profile in individuals with T2D and obesity when compared with selective GLP-1R agonism. Although the metabolic benefits of GLP-1R agonism are established, whether GIPR activation impacts weight loss through peripheral mechanisms is yet to be fully defined.

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Driven by increased caloric intake relative to expenditure, obesity is a major health concern placing economic and operational strain on healthcare and social care worldwide. Pharmacologically, one of the most effective avenues for the management of excess adiposity is the suppression of appetite. However, owing to the body's natural physiological defense to weight loss and tolerability issues that typically accompany anorectic agents, leveraging this approach to induce sustained weight loss is often easier said than done.

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For more than a century, physicians have searched for ways to pharmacologically reduce excess body fat. The tide has finally turned with recent advances in biochemically engineered agonists for the receptor of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and their use in GLP-1-based polyagonists. These polyagonists reduce body weight through complementary pharmacology by incorporating the receptors for glucagon and/or the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).

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Article Synopsis
  • - PAQR4 is an orphan receptor that plays a crucial role in adipose tissue function and overall metabolic health, with its expression linked to lipodystrophy, hyperglycaemia, and hyperinsulinaemia when present in adipocytes.
  • - The deletion of PAQR4 in adipocytes leads to better adipose remodelling and improved glucose regulation in obesity, implying that PAQR4 has a negative impact when overactive.
  • - PAQR4 affects ceramide levels by regulating the stability of ceramide synthases, and excess ceramide leads to poor adipose tissue function; thus, targeting PAQR4 could help treat metabolic disorders.
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