The Gut/Liver/Muscle Relationship of Cardiometabolic Disease
with Ryan Russell, Ph.D.
Welcome to Science by the Slice! We're excited to host this hybrid event. We'll meet in in-person at 700 Park Offices Drive, (behind the Boxyard) to hear this month's speaker while we enjoy pizza, but space is limited. You can also join live remotely via Sigma Xi's Facebook page if you're unable to make it in person. A zoom link will also be sent out to registered attendees.
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About the talk
Cardiometabolic disease and their comorbidities such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) account for ~35% of preventable deaths in the US each year. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) alone increases the risk of cardiovascular complications and AD by up to 3 and 4 times, respectively. Minority populations have higher T2D incidence, and higher rates of macro and microvascular diabetes complications. Addressing disparities in AD and its cardiometabolic risk factors will have a significant impact on population health and reduce health disparities. Thus far, etiologies of cardiometabolic disease are unknown and multifactorial in nature, thereby limiting significant research progress on the etiology and pathogenesis. Elucidating mechanisms mediating the etiology and development of T2D and AD will improve targeted interventions and pharmacotherapies, thus improving the prevention and treatment of a leading cause of death in the US. Healthy offspring of those with T2D (FH+) have a greater lifetime risk (~40%) of developing T2D than those with no family history (FH-). Early pathophysiologies such as impaired metabolic flexibility (MF – reduced ability to switch substrate oxidation upon stimulation) and blunted microvascular blood flow (MBF) responses have been noted in healthy FH+ and precede overt insulin resistance. Impaired MF and MBF are exacerbated by metabolic risk factors such as elevated lipids and triglycerides and disrupted lipid transport and oxidation, implicating them as early pathologies for T2D. Intestinal permeability is negatively associated with gut microbiota diversity, and positively associated with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and T2D in rats and humans. Lifestyle factors impact the gut microbial composition leading to changes in intestinal permeability, and thus dyslipidemia, liver disfunction, and insulin resistance, which are strong T2D risk factors. Thus, it is likely that high-risk populations, such as certain ethnicities or FH+ individuals display differing intestinal microbiota composition leading to increased intestinal permeability.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Russell is a tenured Associate Professor of Exercise Science at North Carolina A&T University, and is focused on identifying the etiologies of cardiometabolic and related diseases. His doctorate work focused on cardiometabolic health disparities noted in people at higher risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D), specifically focusing on metabolic flexibility, and how resistance training reduces disparities in lipid oxidation between populations with stratified risk. Dr. Russell has a total of 5 years postdoctoral experience at 1) the University of Maryland School of Medicine (T32) studying cellular and molecular aspects of cardiometabolic disease, 2) the University of California Los Angeles utilizing continuous glucose monitoring systems to quantify improved glycemic regulation noted with resistance training, and 3) the Menzies Institute for Medical Research studying microvascular regulation of diabetes metabolism, and was a tenured Associate Professor of Exercise Science at the University of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. His ongoing cardiometabolic health disparity research builds upon previous training and seeks to identify early pathophysiological mechanisms leading to the development and progression of T2D with specific interest in health disparities noted in high-risk minority populations. Dr. Russell currently serves on the American Diabetes Association advisory board for Exercise Physiology Interest Group.
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Virtual attendees:
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W e will also provide a zoom link to view the event to registered attendees.
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Talks are co-organized with Science Communicators of North Carolina (SCONC). The RTP chapter of Sigma Xi is a co-organizer and co-sponsor, and encourages any interested scientists to get involved with the chapter and its upcoming events.
