Mouse Model of Obesity

     Within the past two decades, the prevalence of obesity in the human population has soared to epidemic proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 30% of the U.S. population (~58 million) are considered obese and 15% of children aged six to nineteen are considered overweight. A clear example of the rising public concern regarding this epidemic can be seen in the U.S. legislature. In this year alone (2003) 140 bills have been filed aimed directly at obesity, almost double the 72 that were filed last year. Obesity has also been linked to other potentially fatal diseases such as coronary heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes with $117 billion dollars spent each year on medical cases related either directly or indirectly to obesity. Second to cigarette smoke, obesity is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S., making it a vital priority to find a solution to such a rapidly evolving pandemic.

     We are establishing a collaborative team of scientists to investigate fundamental genetic and environmental elements that may contribute to the etiology of obesity. Specifically, this project unites the expertise of NIEHS laboratories studying eicosanoid metabolism and cell growth to that of researchers at North Carolina State University with expertise in quantitative genetics and nutritional biochemistry. Specifically we have conducted a pilot experiment with a unique line of obese mice developed at North Carolina State University. The mice were fed a unique fat source called conjugated linoleic acid which dramatically reduced fat depots by as much as 50% in as little as 1-2 weeks. In collaboration with NIEHS, we have applied functional genomic microarray analysis to examine genes that are differentially expressed, and in doing so hope to identify genes which play a fundamental role in the pathology of obesity.

     We have developed an animal model that will allow us to study nutritional and genetic variables which contribute to the problem of obesity. Functional genomic analysis will allow us to screen for novel genes that may be altered by nutritional variables and may lead to the identification of new nutriceutical or pharmaceutical agents to combat obesity.