Mentor: Paul Harding, Ph.D.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are illnesses that affect a significant number of lives worldwide. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has potential therapeutic applications to treat these sicknesses. Recent findings demonstrate that co-expression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 12S (ADAM12S) is capable of cellular reprogramming into BAT-like cells. This study investigates gene expression patterns of key human obesity and insulin resistance genes in reprogrammed BAT-like human primary adipocytes.

HB-EGF/ADAM12S co-infection significantly upregulated multiple genes characteristic of metabolically active BAT, including ADRB1, PPARG, CXCR4, HK2, LIPE, NAMPT, and PDX1. In contrast, MCHR1, a gene involved in appetite regulation, was significantly downregulated. These findings indicate that HB-EGF/ADAM12S-mediated cellular reprogramming promotes a transcriptional profile consistent with thermogenically active BAT, enhanced substrate utilization, and improved metabolic regulation. This strategy may represent a novel therapeutic avenue for combating obesity and insulin resistance.

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