Rafael Calais Gaspar, PhD, MSc
Postdoctoral AssociateAbout
Research
Publications
2024
1571-P: CIDEB and CGI-58 Regulate Liver Lipid Droplet Size with Cholesterol Content, Linking to Inflammation and Fibrosis in Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis
SAKUMA I, GASPAR R, NASIRI A, KAHN M, ZHENG J, GUERRA M, YIMLAMAI D, MURRAY S, PERELIS M, BARNES W, VATNER D, PETERSEN K, SAMUEL V, SHULMAN G. 1571-P: CIDEB and CGI-58 Regulate Liver Lipid Droplet Size with Cholesterol Content, Linking to Inflammation and Fibrosis in Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis. Diabetes 2024, 73 DOI: 10.2337/db24-1571-p.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLipid droplet sizeCGI-58Choline-deficient l-amino acid-defined high-fat dietGlycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferaseAntisense oligonucleotidesComparative gene identification-58Glycerol-3-phosphateLoss of function mutationsLipid droplet morphologyExpression of CGI-58Liver inflammationCidebCholesterol contentFunction mutationsL-amino acid-defined high-fat dietComplications of type 2 diabetesMolecular mechanismsDevelopment of liver inflammationMacrophage crown-like structuresType 2 diabetesHigh-fat dietCrown-like structuresASO treatmentGPAMKnockdown292-OR: Coenzyme A Synthase Knockdown Alleviates Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis via Decreasing Cholesterol in Liver Lipid Droplets
SAKUMA I, GASPAR R, NASIRI A, KAHN M, GUERRA M, YIMLAMAI D, MURRAY S, PERELIS M, BARNES W, VATNER D, PETERSEN K, SAMUEL V, SHULMAN G. 292-OR: Coenzyme A Synthase Knockdown Alleviates Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis via Decreasing Cholesterol in Liver Lipid Droplets. Diabetes 2024, 73 DOI: 10.2337/db24-292-or.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCholine-deficient l-amino acid-defined high-fat dietAccumulation of cholesterolMRNA expressionPlasma ALTL-amino acid-defined high-fat dietProtective effectLiver lipid dropletsType 2 diabetesPotential therapeutic approachHigh-fat dietDecreased plasma ALTFibrosis markersFree cholesterol accumulationLipid dropletsLiver inflammationDay 1Macrophage markersHepatic inflammationMouse modelMarker expressionTherapeutic approachesDay 2Day 3Day 7Fibrosis1577-P: CIDEB Knockdown Promotes Increased Hepatic Mitochondrial Fat Oxidation and Reverses Hepatic Steatosis and Hepatic Insulin Resistance by the PKCε-Insulin Receptor Kinase Pathway
ZHENG J, NASIRI A, GASPAR R, HUBBARD B, SAKUMA I, MA X, MURRAY S, PERELIS M, BARNES W, SAMUEL V, PETERSEN K, SHULMAN G. 1577-P: CIDEB Knockdown Promotes Increased Hepatic Mitochondrial Fat Oxidation and Reverses Hepatic Steatosis and Hepatic Insulin Resistance by the PKCε-Insulin Receptor Kinase Pathway. Diabetes 2024, 73 DOI: 10.2337/db24-1577-p.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchReceptor kinase pathwaysMitochondrial fat oxidationHepatic insulin resistanceKinase pathwayExpression of cidebAmeliorated HFD-induced hepatic steatosisHFD-induced hepatic steatosisHFD-induced insulin resistanceSteatotic liver diseasePathogenesis of type 2 diabetesHepatic steatosisCidebHyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studiesHepatic triglyceride accumulationInsulin resistanceReverse hepatic steatosisTriglyceride accumulationHepatic insulin sensitivityInsulin sensitivityPathwayHepatic expressionHigh-fatWhole-body insulin sensitivityLiver diseaseTranslocationRho-Kinase Is Differentially Expressed in the Adipose Tissue of Rodent and Human in Response to Aging, Sex, and Acute Exercise
Muñoz V, Vieira R, Katashima C, Gaspar R, Lino M, dos Santos Trombeta J, Duft R, Macêdo A, da Silva A, Ropelle E, de Moura L, Cintra D, Chacon-Mikahil M, Cavaglieri C, Pauli J. Rho-Kinase Is Differentially Expressed in the Adipose Tissue of Rodent and Human in Response to Aging, Sex, and Acute Exercise. The Journals Of Gerontology Series A 2024, 79: glae001. PMID: 38197701, DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glae001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWhite adipose tissueAcute physical exerciseBrown adipose tissueAdipose tissueFemale rodentsInflammatory markersPhysical exerciseROCK activityInguinal white adipose tissueHuman white adipose tissueHigh-fat dietRho-kinasePossible therapeutic targetAcute exerciseAdipokine productionImpaired thermogenesisEndocrine functionMetabolism improvementTherapeutic targetAdipose depotsHuman preadipocytesROCK2 expressionMetabolic stressPreadipocyte differentiationCell senescence
2023
Lysophosphatidic acid triggers inflammation in the liver and white adipose tissue in rat models of 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 2 deficiency and overnutrition
Sakuma I, Gaspar R, Luukkonen P, Kahn M, Zhang D, Zhang X, Murray S, Golla J, Vatner D, Samuel V, Petersen K, Shulman G. Lysophosphatidic acid triggers inflammation in the liver and white adipose tissue in rat models of 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 2 deficiency and overnutrition. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2312666120. PMID: 38127985, PMCID: PMC10756285, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312666120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTime-restricted feeding combined with resistance exercise prevents obesity and improves lipid metabolism in the liver of mice fed a high-fat diet
Damasceno de Lima R, Fudoli Lins Vieira R, Rosetto Muñoz V, Chaix A, Azevedo Macedo A, Calheiros Antunes G, Felonato M, Rosseto Braga R, Castelo Branco Ramos Nakandakari S, Calais Gaspar R, Ramos da Silva A, Esper Cintra D, Pereira de Moura L, Mekary R, Rochete Ropelle E, Pauli J. Time-restricted feeding combined with resistance exercise prevents obesity and improves lipid metabolism in the liver of mice fed a high-fat diet. AJP Endocrinology And Metabolism 2023, 325: e513-e528. PMID: 37755454, DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00129.2023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseResistance exercise trainingTime-restricted feedingFatty liver diseaseHigh-fat dietLiver diseaseExercise trainingWeight gainGlycemic homeostasisMetabolic disordersEffects of TRFCommon liver diseaseDiet-induced obesityMajor risk factorEnergy expenditureFatty acid oxidation genesLiver of miceAccumulation of fatBody weight gainRespiratory exchange rateAccumulation of lipidsLower mRNA expressionRT groupPrevents obesityRisk factorsMAD2-Dependent Insulin Receptor Endocytosis Regulates Metabolic Homeostasis.
Park J, Hall C, Hubbard B, LaMoia T, Gaspar R, Nasiri A, Li F, Zhang H, Kim J, Haeusler R, Accili D, Shulman G, Yu H, Choi E. MAD2-Dependent Insulin Receptor Endocytosis Regulates Metabolic Homeostasis. Diabetes 2023, 72: 1781-1794. PMID: 37725942, PMCID: PMC10658066, DOI: 10.2337/db23-0314.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIR endocytosisInsulin receptor endocytosisCell division regulatorsInsulin receptorProlongs insulin actionReceptor endocytosisTranscriptomic profilesInsulin stimulationEndocytosisMetabolic homeostasisCell surfaceGenetic ablationMetabolic functionsInsulin actionP31cometMad2BubR1DisruptionSignalingRegulatorHomeostasisAdipose tissueInteractionHepatic fat accumulationMetabolismDichloroacetate as a novel pharmaceutical treatment for cancer-related fatigue in melanoma
Zhang X, Lee W, Leitner B, Zhu W, Fosam A, Li Z, Gaspar R, Halberstam A, Robles B, Rabinowitz J, Perry R. Dichloroacetate as a novel pharmaceutical treatment for cancer-related fatigue in melanoma. AJP Endocrinology And Metabolism 2023, 325: e363-e375. PMID: 37646579, PMCID: PMC10642987, DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00105.2023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCancer-related fatigueNovel pharmaceutical treatmentsPhysical functionPharmaceutical treatmentTumor growthCancer treatmentStandard cancer treatmentTumor-bearing miceLate-stage tumorsEffective pharmaceutical treatmentMurine cancer modelsNew metabolic targetsMultiple cancer typesAdjuvant therapyCommon complicationPatients' qualitySymptom managementClinical trialsMurine modelPotential therapyPharmaceutical therapySmall molecule inhibitorsCancer modelDCA treatmentLactate concentrationTissue-specific reprogramming of glutamine metabolism maintains tolerance to sepsis
Leitner B, Lee W, Zhu W, Zhang X, Gaspar R, Li Z, Rabinowitz J, Perry R. Tissue-specific reprogramming of glutamine metabolism maintains tolerance to sepsis. PLOS ONE 2023, 18: e0286525. PMID: 37410734, PMCID: PMC10325078, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286525.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTCA cycle anaplerosisGlobal mitochondrial dysfunctionAromatic amino acid transportAmino acid transportTissue-specific metabolic responsesMurine polymicrobial sepsis modelMetabolic signaturesAntioxidant metabolismGlutathione biosynthesisMitochondrial metabolismTCA cycleGreat therapeutic interestEnergetic demandsPolymicrobial sepsis modelAntioxidant synthesisUnique metabolic signatureGlutamine metabolismMitochondrial dysfunctionAcid transportMuscle transcriptomicsGlutathione cyclingATP ratioIsotope tracingCritical illnessReduced expressionEffects of short-term endurance and strength exercise in the molecular regulation of skeletal muscle in hyperinsulinemic and hyperglycemic Slc2a4+/− mice
Muñoz V, Botezelli J, Gaspar R, da Rocha A, Vieira R, Crisol B, Braga R, Severino M, Nakandakari S, Antunes G, Brunetto S, Ramos C, Velloso L, Simabuco F, de Moura L, da Silva A, Ropelle E, Cintra D, Pauli J. Effects of short-term endurance and strength exercise in the molecular regulation of skeletal muscle in hyperinsulinemic and hyperglycemic Slc2a4+/− mice. Cellular And Molecular Life Sciences 2023, 80: 122. PMID: 37052684, PMCID: PMC11072257, DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04771-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWhole-body glucose homeostasisSkeletal muscle glucose uptakeMuscle glucose uptakeMitochondrial adaptationsMitochondrial activityPost-translational mechanismsSkeletal muscleGlucose uptakeC2C12 cell lineInsulin resistanceStrength exercisesGlucose homeostasisMouse modelPhysical exerciseProtein response markersShort-term physical activityMolecular regulationTranscriptomic modulationRNA sequencingImpact of hyperglycemiaC2C12 cellsStrength exercise trainingType 2 diabetesStrength training protocolsMitochondrial function
Links & Media
News
- September 14, 2023
Organ Systems Respond Uniquely to Fight Sepsis
- April 04, 2023
Researchers Demonstrate New Protective Process Against Liver Fibrosis in NASH
- September 17, 2020
Discoveries & Impact (September 2020)