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Vishwa Deep Dixit, DVM, PhD

Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Pathology and Professor of Immunobiology
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Additional Titles

Director, Yale Center for Research on Aging (Y-Age), Pathology

About

Titles

Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Pathology and Professor of Immunobiology

Director, Yale Center for Research on Aging (Y-Age), Pathology

Biography

Son of teachers, Deep grew up in Hisar (Northwest India). He studied Veterinary Medicine in India, did PhD Research in University of Hannover Germany and postdoc research in Morehouse School of Medicine and NIH. He currently holds Waldemar Von Zedtwitz endowed chair and is a Professor in the Departments of Pathology, Comparative Medicine and Immunobiology. Dixit is also the director of Yale Center for Research on Aging (Y-Age). Dixit lab studies Immunometabolism and aging. His team help establish NLRP3 inflammasome in causing ‘inflammaging’ and immunosenescence that leads to age-related chronic diseases including metabolic dysfunction. Dixit and his collaborators have identified that switch from glycolysis to ketogenesis deactivates the inflammasome and reduces immunopathology. The ongoing work in his laboratory on caloric restriction (CR) in humans (CALERIE-II trial), which extends lifespan in animal models has revealed that adaptation to negative energy balance in a host can be harnessed to identify immunometabolic CR-mimetics to improve health and potentially lifespan. Dixit lab has identified PLA2G7 and SPARC as the CR-inhibited proteins in humans that control inflammation and healthspan in mouse models.

Appointments

Education & Training

Visiting Fellow and Research Fellow
National Institute on Aging, NIH (2006)
PhD
Haryana Agricultural University (2000)
PhD
Research completed in University of Hannover (2000)
MS
Haryana Agricultural University (1999)
DVM
Haryana Agricultural University (1994)

Research

Overview

Dixit’s research is focused on Immunometabolism with the goal to reveal molecular targets that can be harnessed to enhance healthspan with longevity. His laboratory found that pro-longevity hormone FGF21 protects against thymic degeneration and T cell senescence during aging. The ongoing work on this project utilizes various genetic and pharmacological approaches to regulate FGF21 signaling and determine its mechanism of action in control of age-related inflammation and immune-senescence.

Dixit lab has identified a specialized macrophage subset called the Nerve-associated macrophages (NAMs) that resides on sympathetic nerves and controls the bioavailability of catecholamines in tissue microenvironments. The identity of NAMs their function and role in health and disease are unclear and are a major focus of his lab.

Dixit and collaborators help define the role of innate immune sensor NLRP3 inflammasome in age-related chronic diseases, insulin-resistance, type 2 diabetes and immune-senescence and development of inflammation. His lab has also identified that ketone metabolite β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is a therapeutic target to lower the NLRP3 inflammasome -dependent chronic inflammatory diseases. The ongoing work in Dixitlab is investigating metabolic regulators of inflammasome deactivation and mechanism of age-related inflammation as a trigger for chronic disease.

The Dixit lab uses reverse translation approach, where his group has established the impact of caloric restriction (CR) on human physiology and immunometabolism (CALERIE-II trial) and are using animal models to test causality to develop CR-mimetic targets that could potentially confer pro-longevity benefits of CR. This work led to identification of PLA2G7 and SPARC as CR-inhibited proteins in humans that control inflammaging and healthspan.

The research in Dixit Lab is funded by the National Institutes of Health and Cure Alzheimer Fund.

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Vishwa Deep Dixit's published research.

Publications

2024

2023

2022

2021

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    National Institute on Aging, NIH

  • honor

    Nathan W. Shock Award

  • honor

    Vincent Cristofalo Lecture on Gerontology

  • honor

    The Glenn Award for Aging Research

  • honor

    Nathan Shock New Investigator Award for Aging Research

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