Daniel F Vatner, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology)Cards
About
Research
Publications
Featured Publications
Humanized mouse liver reveals endothelial control of essential hepatic metabolic functions
Kaffe E, Roulis M, Zhao J, Qu R, Sefik E, Mirza H, Zhou J, Zheng Y, Charkoftaki G, Vasiliou V, Vatner D, Mehal W, AlcHepNet, Kluger Y, Flavell R. Humanized mouse liver reveals endothelial control of essential hepatic metabolic functions. Cell 2023, 186: 3793-3809.e26. PMID: 37562401, PMCID: PMC10544749, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetabolic functionsSpecies-specific interactionsKey metabolic functionsCell-autonomous mechanismsNon-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseMajor metabolic hubNon-parenchymal cellsMetabolic hubHuman hepatocytesMicroenvironmental regulationHuman diseasesHuman-specific aspectsHuman pathologiesHomeostatic processesSpecies mismatchCholesterol uptakeFatty liver diseaseParacrine mannerHuman immuneBile acid conjugationSinusoidal endothelial cellsHepatic metabolic functionMouse liverEndothelial cellsCellsRising NAFLD and metabolic severity during the Sars‐CoV‐2 pandemic among children with obesity in the United States
Slusher A, Hu P, Samuels S, Tokoglu F, Lat J, Li Z, Alguard M, Strober J, Vatner D, Shabanova V, Caprio S. Rising NAFLD and metabolic severity during the Sars‐CoV‐2 pandemic among children with obesity in the United States. Obesity 2023, 31: 1383-1391. PMID: 36694381, PMCID: PMC10186584, DOI: 10.1002/oby.23728.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseOral glucose tolerance testGlucose tolerance testProton density fat fractionLiver diseaseSars-Cov-2 pandemicTolerance testSeverity of NAFLDMagnetic resonance imaging-derived proton density fat fractionFrequency-matched control groupIntrahepatic fat contentCommon liver diseaseFatty liver diseasePediatric obesity clinicVisceral adipose tissueGlobal pandemicNAFLD prevalenceObesity clinicMetabolic severityInsulin secretionAdipose tissueControl groupObesityPatient careHealth differencesInsulin increases placental triglyceride as a potential mechanism for fetal adiposity in maternal obesity
Anam AK, Cooke KM, Dratver MB, O'Bryan JV, Perley LE, Guller SM, Hwang JJ, Taylor HS, Goedeke L, Kliman HJ, Vatner DF, Flannery CA. Insulin increases placental triglyceride as a potential mechanism for fetal adiposity in maternal obesity. Molecular Metabolism 2022, 64: 101574. PMID: 35970449, PMCID: PMC9440306, DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101574.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDe novo lipogenesisFetal adiposityFatty acid uptakeMaternal obesityObese womenNormal weightExcess adiposityVillous explantsInsulin receptorNewborns of mothersNormal-weight womenAcid uptakePlacental villous explantsTranscription factor SREBP-1Insulin-like growth factor 2Effect of insulinFatty acid oxidationPlacental triglyceridesPlacental responsesElevated triglyceridesMaternal hyperglycemiaWeight womenGrowth factor 2Diabetes riskPlacental metabolismHepatic Insulin Resistance Is Not Pathway Selective in Humans With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
Ter Horst KW, Vatner DF, Zhang D, Cline GW, Ackermans MT, Nederveen AJ, Verheij J, Demirkiran A, van Wagensveld BA, Dallinga-Thie GM, Nieuwdorp M, Romijn JA, Shulman GI, Serlie MJ. Hepatic Insulin Resistance Is Not Pathway Selective in Humans With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Diabetes Care 2020, 44: 489-498. PMID: 33293347, PMCID: PMC7818337, DOI: 10.2337/dc20-1644.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseDe novo lipogenesisFatty liver diseaseBariatric surgeryLiver diseaseImpaired insulin-mediated suppressionGlucose productionHepatic de novo lipogenesisPeripheral glucose metabolismHyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clampType 2 diabetesInsulin-mediated suppressionInsulin-resistant subjectsHepatic insulin resistanceLiver biopsy samplesSuppress glucose productionLipogenic transcription factorsInsulin-mediated regulationObese subjectsInsulin resistanceAcute increaseNovo lipogenesisGlucose metabolismBiopsy samplesParadoxical increaseAltered Catecholamine Stimulated Adipose Lipolysis Contributes to Hepatic Steatosis in Pnpla3I148M Mice
Golla J, Strober J, Paolella L, Suh R, Zhang F, Philbrick W, Vatner D. Altered Catecholamine Stimulated Adipose Lipolysis Contributes to Hepatic Steatosis in Pnpla3I148M Mice. Cellular And Molecular Gastroenterology And Hepatology 2025, 19: 101500. PMID: 40118273, PMCID: PMC12198021, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2025.101500.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchElevation of hepatic de novo lipogenesis in mice with overnutrition is dependent on multiple substrates
Strober J, Siebel S, Murray S, Rodríguez M, Rodriguez-Navas Gonzalez C, Vatner D. Elevation of hepatic de novo lipogenesis in mice with overnutrition is dependent on multiple substrates. Journal Of Lipid Research 2025, 66: 100838. PMID: 40499904, DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2025.100838.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCarbon entryAntisense oligonucleotidesIncreased hepatic TG contentGlutamic-pyruvic transaminase 2Amino acidsChronic overnutritionDevelopment of novel therapiesDecreased hepatic triglyceride contentTCA cycle metabolitesInsulin-resistant subjectsIncreased de novo lipogenesisMultiple amino acidsAntisense oligonucleotide treatmentPrevention of dyslipidemiaHepatic triglyceride contentOverfed miceTG contentHepatic de novo lipogenesisHepatic TG contentC57BL6/J miceLactate dehydrogenase ANovel therapiesMultiple substratesMetabolic syndromeCarbon source
2025
214-OR: Increases in TUG Abundance and Expression Are a Feature of Insulin-Resistant Human Adipose Tissue
STROBER J, TER HORST K, SLUSHER A, PAULO J, GASSAWAY B, SHUKEN S, CAPRIO S, SERLIE M, BOGAN J, VATNER D. 214-OR: Increases in TUG Abundance and Expression Are a Feature of Insulin-Resistant Human Adipose Tissue. Diabetes 2025, 74 DOI: 10.2337/db25-214-or.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWhite adipose tissueHuman white adipose tissueInsulin signalingInsulin resistanceInsulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylationInsulin-responsive GLUT4Pathogenesis of metabolic diseasesTUG cleavageFructose-sweetened beveragesBariatric surgery cohortMetabolic diseasesCohort of patientsAdipose tissueProteomic analysisHuman IRGene expressionMolecular regulationPathway proteinsHyperinsulinemic euglycemic clampAkt phosphorylationSurgery cohortBariatric surgeryHuman adipose tissueNational Institutes of HealthTC10Liver lipid droplet cholesterol content is a key determinant of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis
Sakuma I, Gaspar R, Nasiri A, Dufour S, Kahn M, Zheng J, LaMoia T, Guerra M, Taki Y, Kawashima Y, Yimlamai D, Perelis M, Vatner D, Petersen K, Huttasch M, Knebel B, Kahl S, Roden M, Samuel V, Tanaka T, Shulman G. Liver lipid droplet cholesterol content is a key determinant of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2025, 122: e2502978122. PMID: 40310463, PMCID: PMC12067271, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2502978122.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCholine-deficient l-amino acid-defined high-fat dietBempedoic acidLiver fibrosisLiver diseaseL-amino acid-defined high-fat dietAdvanced liver diseaseCholesterol contentHSD17B13 variantsHigh-fat dietTotal liver cholesterol contentTreated miceActivate signaling pathwaysVariant rs738409Liver cholesterol contentLiver lipidsFibrotic responsePromote inflammationTherapeutic approachesSteatotic liver diseaseDietary cholesterol supplementationFibrosisHuman liver samplesI148MAntisense oligonucleotidesProgressive formATGL links insulin dysregulation to insulin resistance in adolescents with obesity and hepatosteatosis
Slusher A, Santoro N, Vash-Margita A, Galderisi A, Hu P, Tokoglu F, Li Z, Tarabra E, Strober J, Vatner D, Shulman G, Caprio S. ATGL links insulin dysregulation to insulin resistance in adolescents with obesity and hepatosteatosis. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2025, 135: e184740. PMID: 40091831, PMCID: PMC11910223, DOI: 10.1172/jci184740.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clampSubcutaneous adipose tissueInsulin resistanceAdipose triglyceride lipaseInsulin infusionOral glucose tolerance testAbdominal fat distributionGlucose tolerance testMeasuring abdominal fat distributionLower liver fatActivating adipose triglyceride lipaseMetabolic disease riskLiver fat contentEctopic lipid storageFUNDINGThis workAdipose tissue lipolysisInhibition of adipose tissue lipolysisSubcutaneous adipose tissue samplesFat distributionTolerance testInsulin exposureLiver fatInfusionGlycerol turnoverAdipose tissue
2024
High-fat-diet-induced hepatic insulin resistance per se attenuates murine de novo lipogenesis
Goedeke L, Strober J, Suh R, Paolella L, Li X, Rogers J, Petersen M, Nasiri A, Casals G, Kahn M, Cline G, Samuel V, Shulman G, Vatner D. High-fat-diet-induced hepatic insulin resistance per se attenuates murine de novo lipogenesis. IScience 2024, 27: 111175. PMID: 39524330, PMCID: PMC11550620, DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111175.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDuration of high-fat dietAttenuated insulin signalingHigh-fat dietHepatic insulin resistanceInsulin signalingInsulin stimulationLipogenic substrateStimulation of de novo lipogenesisReduced lipogenesisHFD feedingReduce DNLInsulin resistanceResistance per seLipogenesisInsulin resistance per sePathway selectionGlucose metabolismHepatic IRMiceFat dietSREBP1cINSR