Two Metabolism and Nutrition Training Program (MANTP) trainees, postdoctoral trainee Dr. Nate Willis and predoctoral trainee Beth Poad, received oral presentation awards at the 2025 Madison Scholars Symposium! Congratulations Nate and Beth!
Nate Willis presentation: Cyclic Parenteral Nutrition Reduces Peroxisomal Lipid Oxidation Pathway Upregulation Compared to Continuous Infusion
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is a lifesaving therapy for patients unable to use enteral nutrition. However, chronic, steady-rate TPN administration can lead to hepatic dysfunction. This study modeled TPN-induced liver dysfunction in mice and used untargeted transcriptomic analysis to explore how cyclic infusions—featuring daily cessation periods—improve outcomes. Results showed that cyclic infusion protected liver tissue by reducing expression of genes involved in peroxisomal lipid oxidation, a pathway linked to oxidative stress and immune activation. These findings offer valuable insights into how cyclic TPN delivery may mitigate liver damage and improve patient care.
Elizabeth Poad presentation: Cobalamin metabolism in adipocyte differentiation: Investigating Mmadhc as a genetic modifier of Pparg
Adipogenesis, or the differentiation of preadipocytes into adipocytes, is a coordinated process driven by the transcription factor PPARγ. This process is central to understanding obesity, a major risk factor for diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Using a computational genetics pipeline, Elizabeth’s lab identified a genetic interaction between PPARγ and Mmadhc (CblD), a gene involved in vitamin B12 metabolism. Her work shows that CblD influences adipocyte differentiation by modulating PPARγ protein levels and activity. These findings suggest that mitochondrial targeting of CblD and cobalamin metabolism can modify PPARγ-driven adipogenesis and may contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
