Matthew Rodeheffer, PhD
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
Obesity, which is defined as an excessive increase in white adipose tissue (fat) mass, is one of the leading public health concerns of the 21st century. The relevance of obesity as a public health concern is due to two main factors 1) the rates of obesity have increased over the last thirty years and today almost one third of the adult population in the U.S. is classified as obese, and 2) obesity is associated with several other health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer.
Despite the importance of fat in human disease our understanding of the regulation of fat mass is limited. The research in my laboratory is directed toward elucidating the molecular mechanisms that regulate fat mass and contribute to the development of obesity and obesity associated pathologies. Specifically, we focus on identifying and characterizing fat progenitor and stem cells and the molecular processes that control the differentiation of these cells into mature, lipid-filled fat cells.
We take several approaches to accomplish our research goals, employing several mouse models of human disease, human primary cell culture, genomic and proteomic techniques and developing novel mouse models for the study of fat regulation. Determining how the growth of fat is regulated may lead to the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Specialized Terms: Genomics; Stem Cells
Extensive Research Description
Despite the importance of fat in human disease our understanding of the regulation of fat mass is limited. The research in my laboratory is directed toward elucidating the molecular mechanisms that regulate fat mass and contribute to the development of obesity and obesity associated pathologies. Specifically, we focus on identifying and characterizing fat progenitor and stem cells and the molecular processes that control the differentiation of these cells into mature, lipid-filled fat cells.
We take several approaches to accomplish our research goals, employing several mouse models of human disease, human primary cell culture, genomic and proteomic techniques and developing novel mouse models for the study of fat regulation. Determining how the growth of fat is regulated may lead to the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Metabolic Diseases; Stem Cells; Genomics; Overnutrition
Selected Publications
- Identification of metabolically distinct adipocyte progenitor cells in human adipose tissuesA R, G O, J B, PE O, RB S, AK C, RA T, MS R, PR B, MJ W. Identification of metabolically distinct adipocyte progenitor cells in human adipose tissues. 2019 DOI: 10.1530/ey.16.11.11.
- Identification and characterisation of metabolically distinct human adipocyte precursor cellsRaajendiran A, Ooi G, Clark A, Bayliss J, O’Brien P, Taylor R, Rodeheffer M, Burton P, Watt M. Identification and characterisation of metabolically distinct human adipocyte precursor cells. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 2019, 13: 263. DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2018.11.080.
- 661 Mechanisms that regulate adipocyte stem cell behavior in the skinGonzalez G, Shook B, Holtrup B, Baida G, Budunova I, Rodeheffer M, Horsley V. 661 Mechanisms that regulate adipocyte stem cell behavior in the skin. Journal Of Investigative Dermatology 2017, 137: s306. DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.07.338.
- The Adipose Tissue Microenvironment Regulates Depot-Specific Adipogenesis in ObesityJeffery E, Wing A, Holtrup B, Sebo Z, Kaplan JL, Saavedra-Peña R, Church CD, Colman L, Berry R, Rodeheffer MS. The Adipose Tissue Microenvironment Regulates Depot-Specific Adipogenesis in Obesity. Cell Metabolism 2016, 24: 142-150. PMID: 27320063, PMCID: PMC4945385, DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.05.012.
- Fat Decisions: Leptin Regulates Bone versus Fat in the MarrowRodeheffer MS, Horowitz MC. Fat Decisions: Leptin Regulates Bone versus Fat in the Marrow. Cell Stem Cell 2016, 18: 684-686. PMID: 27257753, DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2016.05.006.
- 743 Adipocyte stem cells are maintained by Pdgfα signaling in the skinGonzalez G, Shook B, Holtrup B, Rodeheffer M, Horsley V. 743 Adipocyte stem cells are maintained by Pdgfα signaling in the skin. Journal Of Investigative Dermatology 2016, 136: s131. DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2016.02.786.
- Chapter 20 Marrow Adipose Tissue and its Interactions with the Skeletal, Hematopoietic, and Immune SystemsBerry R, Fretz J, MacDougald O, Klibansky A, Rosen C, Rodeheffer M, Horowitz M. Chapter 20 Marrow Adipose Tissue and its Interactions with the Skeletal, Hematopoietic, and Immune Systems. 2016, 345-352. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800571-2.00020-7.
- Rapid depot-specific activation of adipocyte precursor cells at the onset of obesityJeffery E, Church CD, Holtrup B, Colman L, Rodeheffer MS. Rapid depot-specific activation of adipocyte precursor cells at the onset of obesity. Nature Cell Biology 2015, 17: 376-385. PMID: 25730471, PMCID: PMC4380653, DOI: 10.1038/ncb3122.
- Weighing in on Adipocyte PrecursorsBerry R, Jeffery E, Rodeheffer MS. Weighing in on Adipocyte Precursors. Cell Metabolism 2013, 19: 8-20. PMID: 24239569, PMCID: PMC3947170, DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.10.003.
- Characterization of the adipocyte cellular lineage in vivoBerry R, Rodeheffer MS. Characterization of the adipocyte cellular lineage in vivo. Nature Cell Biology 2013, 15: 302-308. PMID: 23434825, PMCID: PMC3721064, DOI: 10.1038/ncb2696.
- Analysis of gene networks in white adipose tissue development reveals a role for ETS2 in adipogenesis.Birsoy K, Berry R, Wang T, Ceyhan O, Tavazoie S, Friedman J, Rodeheffer M. Analysis of gene networks in white adipose tissue development reveals a role for ETS2 in adipogenesis. Journal Of Cell Science 2011, 124: e1-e1. DOI: 10.1242/jcs.101436.
- Analysis of gene networks in white adipose tissue development reveals a role for ETS2 in adipogenesisBirsoy K, Berry R, Wang T, Ceyhan O, Tavazoie S, Friedman JM, Rodeheffer MS. Analysis of gene networks in white adipose tissue development reveals a role for ETS2 in adipogenesis. Development 2011, 138: 4709-4719. PMID: 21989915, PMCID: PMC3190384, DOI: 10.1242/dev.067710.
- Adipocyte Lineage Cells Contribute to the Skin Stem Cell Niche to Drive Hair CyclingFesta E, Fretz J, Berry R, Schmidt B, Rodeheffer M, Horowitz M, Horsley V. Adipocyte Lineage Cells Contribute to the Skin Stem Cell Niche to Drive Hair Cycling. Cell 2011, 146: 761-771. PMID: 21884937, PMCID: PMC3298746, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.07.019.
- Tipping the scale: muscle versus fatRodeheffer MS. Tipping the scale: muscle versus fat. Nature Cell Biology 2010, 12: 102-104. PMID: 20081844, DOI: 10.1038/ncb0210-102.
- Identification of White Adipocyte Progenitor Cells In VivoRodeheffer MS, Birsoy K, Friedman JM. Identification of White Adipocyte Progenitor Cells In Vivo. Cell 2008, 135: 240-249. PMID: 18835024, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2008.09.036.