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Kristallstruktur von Vaspin
Helmholtz Munich | John Heiker

Serpins and Proteases in Obesity

Serpins and Proteases in Obesity

Proteolytic Enzymes and Their Regulators in Adipose Tissue, Obesity and Inflammation

A major focus of our research has been on serine protease inhibitors (serpins), their protease targets, and their interplay in adipose tissue function or dysfunction in obesity. Proteases play crucial roles in regulating the localization, activity, and interactions of their target proteins. Due to this broad functional repertoire, they are involved in many important cellular processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Proper control of proteolytic activity is essential for healthy cell and tissue function while dysregulation is a contributing factor to many pathological conditions. In obesity, an imbalance between proteolytic activity and protease inhibition is observed and related to increased inflammation, insulin resistance, and reduced energy expenditure. Adipocyte hypertrophy, together with increased adipose tissue stresses such as hypoxia and fibrosis, contribute to local inflammation and the development of insulin resistance. Extracellular as well as intracellular proteases have been found to be dysregulated in the obese adipose tissue. Pharmacological targeting of key proteolytic enzymes may counteract adipose tissue dysfunction and prevent progress of metabolic diseases.

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MA-Foto John Heiker_freigestellt

PD Dr. Dr. John Heiker

Group Leader "Molecular Obesity Research"

Leipzig