Page 26 - CIBERDEM-2015-eng

Research groups
Endocrinology and metabolism
Programme: P2
Lead Researcher: Álvarez Escola, Carmen
Group members
STAFF MEMBERS: Fernández Millán, Elisa.
ASSOCIATED MEMBERS: Escrivá Pons, Fernando | Lizarraga Mollinedo, Esther | Martín Arribas, Ma Ángela.
Main lines of research
The identification of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that link poor perinatal growth with the increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the adulthood through the use of animal models of nutri- tional manipulation. To this end we have focused on:
• The search of new growth factors and mecha- nisms that regulate the development, growth and death of pancreatic islet cells.
• The study of the effect of nutrients on glucagon and insulin production and release from pancreat- ic alpha and beta cells, respectively.
• The potential role of incretins (GLP-1 and GIP) in the relationship between intrauterine growth re- striction and the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the adulthood.
• The impact of early undernutrition on hypotha- lamic sensitivity to insulin and leptin as well as on the expression of orexigenic and anorexigenic factors (NPY, POMC).
• The study of gut microbiota composition as a new environmental factor involved in the develop- ment of metabolic syndrome in perinatal growth restricted individuals: possible alteration of ente- ro-adipo-insular axis.
• The identification of natural compounds from food with favorable effects against diseases as- sociated with oxidative stress and inflammation such as type 2 diabetes and the characterization of the specific mechanisms of action involved in their health benefits.
26 I Annual report 2015 I CIBERDEM