Potthoff Laboratory publishes in Diabetes

Dr. Matthew Potthoff, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology in the Carver College of Medicine, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center and a member the Obesity Research and Education Initiative at the University of Iowa, recently published an article in Diabetes entitled, “Circulating FGF21 is Liver Derived and Enhances Glucose Uptake During Refeeding and Overfeeding.” Dr. Potthoff’s laboratory discovered that Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), an endocrine hormone that is expressed in multiple tissues and functions physiologically to maintain energy homeostasis, functions physiologically as an insulin sensitizer under conditions of acute refeeding and overfeeding.  Their study shows that liver-derived FGF21 enters the circulation during fasting, but also remains present and functional during the early stage of refeeding. FGF21 is being pursued as a therapeutic target for diabetes and obesity because of its rapid and potent effects on improving insulin sensitivity.  

Potthoff postdoc, Dr. Kathleen Markan, receives Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award

Dr. Kathleen R. Markan, a postdoctoral scholar under Dr. Matthew Potthoff, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology in the Carver College of Medicine, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center and a member the Obesity Research and Education Initiative at the University of Iowa, has been awarded an NIH Postdoctoral Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for her project entitled, “A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Combat Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease”.  The main objective of her project is to determine the role of Tox, a novel transcription factor, in the development of metabolic dysfunction.  Dr. Markan’s studies will utilize unique genetic models and advanced radio-isotope tracer techniques to delineate the in vivo effects of Tox upon liver metabolism.